Singapore, Port Klang centres sign cruise MoU

Singapore Cruise Centre Pte Ltd (SCC) and Port Klang Cruise Centre Sdn Bhd (PKCC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the mutual collaboration for the advancement of the cruise industry in Malaysia and Singapore to mark a new chapter for the cruise industry in the region.
The MoU shall facilitate operational collaboration and business development for the two terminals, which are regular stops in world cruise itineraries. It comes in the wake of substantial efforts to enhance ties between cruise terminal operators in the region, including the formation of Asia Cruise Terminal Association (ACTA) which SCC chairs and PKCC is a founding member.
SCC chief executive officer Christina Siaw lauded the MoU with Port Klang.
“This joint collaboration is coming at a very opportune time and will be a very fitting launch-pad to tap the vast potential of the cruise industry, which is on the cusp of a boom. We are now seeing more cruise passengers coming in from Europe, the Middle East, as well as North and South Asia.
“Joining hands with our Malaysian counterparts will only strengthen our proposition when we market to cruise liners from around the world to call at our ports and to offer holiday-makers more varied and exciting cruise itineraries” she said in a statement.
PKCC CEO Brian Paul said Port Klang Cruise Centre was acquired by Glenn Marine Group in June 2010.
“Our mission is to promote PKCC as a cruise gateway for Kuala Lumpur and thereby increase terminal utilisation and tourism spinoff for the country and region. The MoU will assist us in seeking synergies with Singapore as our common objective is to build and expand the cruise market in the region. With this MoU, we hope to embark on a new era of business collaboration which will be explored further through our participation in ACTA,” he said.
Both CEOs believe that cruise can be an industry driver for tourism in Asia. This is because tourists frequently use cruises to sample destinations, returning to those places which they found most interesting. This is especially true of established cruise playgrounds such as the Caribbean, where 80% of tourists used their cruises to explore new destinations for future trips.
Port Klang Authority acting general manager Capt David Padman said the authority welcomed the formal collaboration between SCC and PKCC. “PKCC is the premier cruise terminal in the country, with major cruise lines using Port Klang as a gateway to Kuala Lumpur. The MoU will strengthen the cruise market in the region, benefitting both terminals and Port Klang in general. It is also in line with several sister port arrangements we have signed in the past.
“This cruise arrangement, however, is a first for Malaysia and we see benefits in cruise numbers increasing in Port Klang and also technical and operational collaboration,” he said.
The signatories agreed that the MoU marked only the first tentative steps in developing cruise industry in Asia.

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