PORT KLANG: Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT), formerly known as Boustead Cruise Centre, has the competitive advantage to be Asia's top cruise ships destination, its chairman Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof said.

"The terminal is strategically located in the most developed and progressive state in the country, Selangor, which has a myriad of tourism attractions. 

"Owing to its strategic location, PKCT has the capability to attract major global passenger cruise liners," Azman said at PKCT launch by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah here today.

PKCT is a joint venture cruise terminal owned by Northport (Malaysia) Bhd's subsidiary Klang Port Management Sdn Bhd and Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Azman said under the new ownership and management, PKCT would be positioned for further growth in the cruise sector and for the betterment of Port Klang as a whole.

"We will be discussing with the government on our future expansion plans where we intend to extend our wharf to cater for more cruise ship calls.

"We also plan to upgrade our terminal facilities to cater for more passengers.

"The goal is for PKCT to become the catalysts of growth for the nation's tourism industry and as a key economic driver for the state of Selangor," he added.

Also present during the launch were Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, the Crown Prince of Selanogr Tengku Amir Shah, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Seong.

MMC Corporation Bhd chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Atan, MMC group managing director Tan Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh and Westports Holdings Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri G Gnanalingam were also present.

In December 2019, Northport and Wesports entered into a joint venture to take over the shareholding of Boustead Cruise Centre Sdn Bhd (BBC) on a 50:50 ratio from Boustead Holdings Bhd.

In March 2021, Northport, Westports and Boustead executed a share sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of BCC.

Following the successful completion of the acquisition, the new owners of the cruise terminal have embarked on a rebranding exercise and today, the cruise terminal is known as PKCT.

Azman said to date, PKCT had handled more than five million passengers and more than 5,500 cruise ships since it began operations in 1995.

"On July 1, 2022, we were delighted to see the resumption of cruise ships calling at our terminal.

"The arrival of Spectrum of the Seas owned by Royal Caribbean International was a significant milestone, as it marked the revival of cruise tourism after the relaxation of Covid-related travel restrictions.

"On July 4, 2022, Resort World Cruises began home-porting at PKCT, with its vessel, Genting Dream, and this has received tremendous response from local holidaymakers.

"We are pleased to announce that since July 1, 2022, we have had 32 cruise ship calls with 73,924 passengers arriving in PKCT," he added.