The strait can also be further divided into the North Channel and the South Channel. The North Channel refers to the body of water north of the northeastern promontory of Penang Island, where George Town is situated, whereas the South Channel covers the body of water south of that promontory.
The North Channel off the northern coastline of George Town
The South Channel along the eastern shoreline of George Town
Jerejak Island, the largest island within the Penang Strait
A handful of islands and islets lie within the South Channel of the Penang Strait. The largest of all is Jerejak Island, located off the southeastern coast of Penang Island. The largely forested island was once the site of a leper asylum, which was then converted into a maximum security prison before its eventual closure in 1993.[4]
Ever since the establishment of George Town in 1786, the Penang Strait has served as an important shipping route within the State of Penang. Up until the 1970s, the main harbour facilities were situated at Weld Quay in George Town. The reclamation of Weld Quay in the late 19th century allowed larger ships to dock off the city's waterfront, as the depth of the seas off Weld Quay was deeper.[5]
In 1974, the Port of Penang's cargo facilities were shifted to Butterworth across the strait.[3][6][7] Thus, cargo and container shipping are mainly handled in Butterworth, while Swettenham Pier in George Town continues to receive cruise ships to this day.[2][8] In 2015 alone, Swettenham Pier recorded 145 port calls, the highest in Malaysia.[9] Meanwhile, Butterworth's port facilities handled more than 1.2 million TEU of cargo in 2013, making it one of the busiest harbours in the country.[10]
Towards the end of World War II, the Penang Strait was also mined by the Allied forces, using air-dropped mines to impede Japanese merchant shipping.[11]
On 17 January 2010, a dragon boat tragedy occurred when the strong currents resulted in a boat collision, capsizing a dragon boat and killing 6 paddlers on board. The incident raised concerns by several officers, especially Shamsir Mohamed, officer of the Marine Department (northern region) and Lai Chew Hock, chairman of the Penang Dragon Boat Association, regarding the suitability for conducting water sports in the Penang Straits. Shamsir cited busy traffic, unpredictable weather, and strong currents for his concerns, while Chew Hock claimed the area was unsuitable for any water sports activities due to debris from fishing boats and strong currents.[12] However, Lim Choo Hooi, chairman of Penang Forward Sports Club, refuted the claim, saying that neither the wave tides nor the monsoon season posed a problem for training sessions. Coaches would need to check sea and weather conditions prior to conducting training sessions. He also said that the tragedy site was protected from tsunamis and strong waves and had been used for training for three years, making it one of the safest stretches of public shoreline.[13]
To bolster Penang's electricity grid, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) initiated a RM500 million cross-straits electric grid project in 2022. This significant investment aims to deliver a substantial 2,000 megawatts (MW) of power from the national grid to the island. The project encompasses an 8.5-kilometer-long monopole transmission line, while six of the 31 towers will boast a unique betel nut design, making them a visually striking landmark alongside the iconic Penang Bridge.[14]
^Natacha Aveline-Dubach, Sue-Ching Jou, Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao (2014). Globalization and New Intra-Urban Dynamics in Asian Cities. Taiwan: Taiwan Resource Center for Chinese Studies. ISBN9789863500216.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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