Penang : Profile

Clearance

If you are already cleared into Malaysia, the standard procedure is to check in with Jabatan Laut [Marine Department of the Ministry of Transport] and to check out with Jabatan Laut and Royal Malaysian Customs.

Jabatan Laut is in the Wisma Laut [Marine House], with entrances in both Lebuh Light and Lebuh Union. Customs officers, located in Swettenham Pier, issue the Port Clearances. Enter Swettenham Pier via the vehicular gate (not the building) and tell the guard that you need to clear out your yacht with Customs.

If you are coming or going internationally (eg direct to or from Singapore, Thailand or Indonesia), you also need to check in or out with Immigration. The relevant office operates 24 hours a day and is in the old Immigration Building at the corner of Lebuh Pantai and Lebuh Light; enter the building by the door marked ‘Bahagian Perkapalan’ [Shipping Division]. For visa extensions, visit the new Immigration Building across the channel, in Seberang Prai.

When checking in and out, carry ship’s papers, passports, crew lists, and forms including Port Clearances from previous Malaysian ports.

Remember, in Malaysia, you must carry your passport at all times. A photocopy does not satisfy the legal requirements.

Docking

Penang is justly famed among cruisers for its medical services, superb food and provisions, developed retail sector, and its multicultural and friendly population. Services catering specifically to cruisers are sparse, but many services are available in the well developed industrial and commercial environment for those who seek them.

Three anchorages and two public marinas are popular with cruisers.

If arriving from the south, you can travel the Western Channel (between Pulau Pinang and Pulau Jerjak) to the Seagate Anchorage or the Marina Batu Uban. Or use the Main Channel (under the Penang Bridge), to reach the Tanjong City Marina or the Junk Anchorage.

Arriving from the north, the Tanjong City Marina, Junk Anchorage, and E-Gate Anchorage are handy. Or you could continue along the Main Channel, under the bridge, and round Pulau Jerjak to the Western Channel and Seagate Anchorage or Marina Batu Uban.

Tanjong City Marina based around the century-old Church Street Pier, and has more than 100 berths. At about 5° 24.9’N, 100°20.7’E, it is handy to the downtown of George Town. The marina has a floating breakwater that partly shields boats from ferry wake and wave. Tidal streams can be significant at spring tides. Berths at the northern end of the marina offer the best shelter from ferry wash.

The Junk Anchorage, just south of the Tanjong City Marina, lies off the clan jetties (the New, Yeoh, Lee, Tan, Chew and Lim jetties). Diesel fuel is usually available from a fuel barge nearby. The Junk Anchorage is exposed to weather from the north and east.

The E-Gate anchorage lies at about 05º 22'N 100º19'E, after proceeding south down the Western Channel from the Junk Anchorage. Anchor offshore from either the E-Gate building (prominent cupola) or the blue-roofed building housing the Jabatan Laut headquarters for the northern region of peninsula Malaysia. Be alert to submarine cables and the associated no-anchoring area. The anchorage is handy to the old marine police jetty, where diesel fuel can be bought. The old marine police jetty is no longer being maintained. The bay is slated for land reclamation. A Tesco hypermarket and associated shops and food court are handy to this anchorage.

The Seagate Anchorage is in the Western Channel at about 05º19'N 100º18’.5E. Uncle Quah (Mr Quah Thye Hock, tel. 012 427 3992) supplies water sports services and rents moorings for a couple of ringgit a day. He is a good source of information and assistance. The sandy beach just south of the Seagate Anchorage has been used by cruisers for careening.

Marina Batu Uban, at about 05º21'.3N 100º18'.9E in the Western Channel, is a small (35 berths for vessels up to 12 metres) and unpretentious public marina operated by the Jabatan Laut. The marina has no breakwater. Wind wave and wake from passing motor vessels have burst fenders on more than one occasion. Skippers are advised to make sure their mast is not aligned with their neighbour’s.

Last updated December 2009.

Marina Butu Uban
Marina Batu Uban is not a full-service marina, but Jabatan Laut officers are helpful, when they have time from their official duties, and have helped cruisers find services ashore including facilitating hire of motorbikes or cars. The Marina has no seawall; wind wave and wake from commercial traffic burst fenders on one occasion. Skippers are advised to make sure their mast is not aligned with their neighbour's.

Tanjong City Marina
No 8A Pengkalan Weld, 10300 Penang, Malaysia, (Position 5° 25' N, 100°21'E)
Tel:+604 2102 336 / 337 / 338 / 339 , Fax:+604 2102 334, VHF Channel 68
tgctmarina@penangport.com.my
New marina with 140 berths. Call marina by VHF on approach.(Penang Pilot Channel 12 - may assist to alert the marina). Clearance services, Water, electricity, showers and toilets, laundry, WiFi, restaurant, repairs. Fuel berth and provision store planned. Free bus into town during office hours. Until further protection is installed, berths at the southern end of the marina are subject to a significant amount of surge caused by arrival/departure of the nearby ferries.