GEOREG TOWN, March 7 – Yeoh Soon Hin, Chairman of the Penang Port Commission, said the commission is closely monitoring potential disruptions to global maritime routes caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Working with Penang Port Sdn Bhd, daily assessments are being conducted on cruise schedules at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal to detect any omissions or changes to vessel calls.
He noted that some international cruise lines, including MSC Cruises, TUI Cruises and AIDA Cruises, have begun adjusting routes with ships potentially bypassing the Suez Canal and sailing around the Cape of Good Hope.
Despite challenges such as aviation disruptions and rising fuel costs, cruise operators like StarDream Cruises and Royal Caribbeancontinue their regional operations, keeping Penang a key destination in the Southeast Asian cruise network.
