 Ferries to Butterworth departed from the several piers along Weld Quay, such as Kedah Pier, Church Street Pier and the FMSR Pier.During the Japanese occupation of Penang in World War II, the Port of Penang was put to use as a major Axis naval base.Between 1942 and 1944, George Town served as the port of call and a replenishment hub for the submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Kriegsmarine (of Nazi Germany) and the Regia Marina (of the Kingdom of Italy).