Editing Penang (section)

===Sea===
[[File:Port of Penang, Seberang Perai 2024.jpg|thumb|The [[Port of Penang]] was declared a [[Free economic zone|Free Commercial Zone]] (FCZ) in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 May 2021 |title=Free commercial zone status a game changer for Penang Port |url=https://thesun.my/business/free-commercial-zone-status-a-game-changer-for-penang-port-GG7866844 |access-date=15 December 2023 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref>]]
Formerly a vital British [[entrepôt]], Penang's maritime trade has significantly declined due to the loss of [[George Town, Penang|George Town]]'s free-port status in 1969 and the concurrent development of [[Port Klang]] near the federal capital [[Kuala Lumpur]].<ref name="Goh-2014" /> Despite this, the [[Port of Penang]] remains the primary harbour for northwestern Malaysia and [[southern Thailand]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aznam Shah |first=Shaheera |date=25 January 2018 |title=Penang Port taps southern Thailand's booming economy |url=https://www.mmc.com.my/250118%20-%20Penang%20Port%20taps%20southern%20Thailand's%20booming%20economy.pdf |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=The Malaysian Reserve }}</ref> It handled more than 1.4 million [[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEUs]] of cargo in 2024, the third highest among Malaysia's seaports.<ref name="GDP by state 2024" /><ref name=":1" />

[[Swettenham Pier]], situated within [[George Town Central Business District, Penang|downtown George Town]], accommodates cruise ships and is one of the major entry points into the city. In 2017, Swettenham Pier recorded 125 port calls, surpassing [[Port Klang]] as the busiest cruise shipping terminal in Malaysia.<ref name="The Sun-2017">{{Cite news |date=20 December 2017 |title=Swettenham Pier Surpasses Port Klang as Top Port of Call for Cruise Ships |url=https://thesun.my/archive/swettenham-pier-surpasses-port-klang-top-port-call-cruise-ships-BUARCH513414 |access-date=10 December 2023 |work=[[The Sun (Malaysia)|The Sun]] }}</ref> The pier has attracted some of the world's largest cruise liners, such as the ''[[Queen Mary 2]]'', and also sees occasional port visits by warships.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2015 |title=Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal A World Cruise Destination for Queen Mary 2 |url=https://www.penangport.com.my/media-center/announcements/february-2015/swettenham-pier-cruise-terminal-a-world-cruise-des |access-date=27 December 2023 |website=[[Port of Penang]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 September 2005 |title=US Navy Ship Calls at Penang |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2005/09/30/us-navy-ship-calls-at-penang/ |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] }}</ref>

The cross-strait [[Penang ferry service]] connects George Town and [[Seberang Perai]], and was formerly the only transportation link between the island city and the mainland until the completion of the [[Penang Bridge]] in 1985. At present, four ferries ply the [[Penang Strait]] between both cities daily.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opalyn Mok |date=2 October 2024 |title=Final Voyage: Iconic Ferry 'Pulau Pinang' to Make Its Journey across Penang Strait Tomorrow, Set for Transformation into Museum |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/10/02/final-voyage-iconic-ferry-pulau-pinang-to-make-its-journey-across-penang-strait-tomorrow-set-for-transformation-into-museum/152338 |access-date=31 December 2024 |work=[[Malay Mail]]}}</ref>