SIBS: Pulau Berkas and Pulau Semakau (East)

Some of the core team supported the Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey (SIBS) during the last low spring tide. They surveyed Pulau Berkas which lies in the Life Firing Area. Their albums are linked below. 

Photos by Loh Kok Sheng.

From the NParks website: The Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey (SIBS) – a comprehensive survey of the terrestrial and marine habitats of Singapore’s southern islands. The survey, launched on 13 Dec 2020, includes the islands that make up Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, well-known islands such as Sentosa and Pulau Semakau, as well as smaller and lesser-known islands such as Pulau Biola and Pulau Jong. The survey will be carried out across two years, and also incorporates data from recent baseline surveys carried out by NParks in recent years. An extensive literature review of earlier records is also being compiled.

SIBS: Pulau Biola, Pulau Tekukor and Raffles Lighthouse

Some of the core team supported the Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey (SIBS) during the last low spring tide. They surveyed Pulau Biola, Pulau Tekukor and Raffles Lighthouse. Their albums are linked below.

Composite of photos by Russel Low, Low Kok Sheng,
Chay Hoon, Jianlin Liu  and Vincent Choo.

From the NParks website: The Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey (SIBS) – a comprehensive survey of the terrestrial and marine habitats of Singapore’s southern islands. The survey, launched on 13 Dec 2020, includes the islands that make up Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, well-known islands such as Sentosa and Pulau Semakau, as well as smaller and lesser-known islands such as Pulau Biola and Pulau Jong. The survey will be carried out across two years, and also incorporates data from recent baseline surveys carried out by NParks in recent years. An extensive literature review of earlier records is also being compiled.

Singapore's Southern shores: got anything there meh?

Where are our Southern shores? What habitats, what biodiversity can be found here? I set up these pages on wildsingapore so the Southern Expedition participants can get a brief idea. Others may also find these useful.

These simple pages provide links, slideshows of habitats and typical marine biodiversity on these shores and submerged reefs in southern Singapore. As well as brief info on the conservation status, conservation efforts and some history of each.

Check out the pages for more!

Do let me know if you spot errors or have additional information about these wonderful shores: hello@wildsingapore.com or on facebook.

More reclamation and refinery expansion expected on Jurong Island

More refinery expansion and upgrading investments can be expected at the Chawan/Merlimau sectors of Jurong Island, industry sources say.

Jurong Island from the living seagrass meadows on Cyrene Reef.

Further signs of this emerged this week with JTC Corporation calling a tender for soil investigation there - its second in 10 months in the same area - although this time, it is understood to cover a different part of Chawan/ Merlimau. Soil investigation work usually precedes reclamation, which takes about one-and-a-half to two years, contracting sources said of JTC's usual land preparation to meet investors' needs.

Bunker spill 800 metres of Sentosa on 1 May 09

I just learnt that there was a spill off Sentosa on 1 May. A report says this has affected the shores of Sentosa and Labrador. Other shores nearby include Cyrene Reefs.

I could not find a report about this in our media or on MPA's or NEA's website. But here's some details from elsewhere. Thanks to Kok Sheng for the heads up on this.

Bunker spill off Singapore cleared
Spill occurred 800 metres of Sentosa in Singapore
Siti Adawiah, PortWorld News 4 May 09;

A minor bunker spill off Singapore has been successfully cleared over the weekend, the port authority said Monday.

Singapore-registered bunker barge Global Duri was supplying bunkers to a Panama-registered vessel when 300 litres of bunker fuel was spilled on Friday.

The spill occurred at the Western Working Anchorage where the reefer cargo ship MV Meita Maru was anchored, some 800 metres from Sentosa, an island in the southern part of Singapore.

According to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), clean-up operations were successfully completed on Saturday.

"There are no more signs of spilled oil at the anchorage and fairway," an MPA spokesperson told Bunkerworld Monday.

MPA had dispatched five patrol and emergency response craft to the affected area, with the first craft arriving within 15 minutes after the incident were reported. Three contractor craft were also deployed.

Singapore's National Environmental Agency (NEA) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) have also confirmed that the rockbunds off Labrador Park and Sentosa that were affected by some light patches of oil have been cleaned.

Sentosa’s beaches, which are popular with locals and tourists, were not affected, the SDC said.

Related posts

• Photo of oil spill on Sentosa taken on 4 May
• Shipping accident waiting to happen?

Key Singapore petrochem projects on track

Although the Singapore petrochemical industry has received a double blow of falling global demand and oversupply from new production lines in the Middle East, it was announced that major petrochemical projects committed in Singapore remain 'very much on track'.This includes Shell's US$3 billion (S$4.5 billion) cracker plant on Pulau Bukom which will start producing next year. Pulau Bukom lies close to Pulau Hantu.

Key petrochem projects on track
Straits Times 10 Feb 09;

THE petrochemical industry has received a double blow of falling global demand and oversupply from new production lines in the Middle East.

But the major projects committed in Singapore remain 'very much on track', Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang assured Parliament yesterday.

Oil giant Shell's US$3 billion (S$4.5 billion) cracker plant will start producing next year. A new Mitsui plant is also scheduled to start up by next year, among other projects. And in 2011, ExxonMobil's US$5 billion second petrochem complex will be ready.

These plants are expected to create about 1,000 jobs in the next few years, Mr Lim added. Spillover benefits are also anticipated, like extra business for small and medium-sized engineering companies that provide maintenance services.

The Government will continue to invest in more world-class research programmes, he said. It will also help engineering service providers handle bigger and more complex projects by lending them a hand in improving their project management, design engineering, machinery upgrading and maintenance management skills.

More links
The petrochemical industry and our Southern Islands on the wildfilms blog.

Google Ocean features Pulau Hantu, Labrador and Buloh

The first Singapore-related content with the Ocean tool have been created for Pulau Hantu, Labrador Park and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Full media articles on wildsingapore news.It took me a while to get the new Google Ocean downloaded (don't ask) but here's what's displayed for Singapore. A company has gotten in the act on diving at Pulau Hantu. You can add photos, comments, divers, dive logs, dive trips. Currently zero entries for all.

For Labrador, how nice that they've picked up the photos I uploaded to Google Earth a long time ago. The process for doing so in the past was laborious and required moderator approval. Not sure how it works now, I'm too tired to try it out tonight. But I'm glad they included the photo I uploaded about the dredging off our only reefs associated with a Nature Reserve.

For Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, there also lots of room to add photos and stuff.

For the Southern Islands, a bit of a confusing entry.Seems the errors in the World Database on Protected Areas which I blogged about earlier, are still there. The Marine Nature Area designated around the Sisters Islands have been ambiguously placed in the middle of nowhere.In fact the location of Labrador is wrong too (placed in the middle of Pasir Panjang container terminal). This error already occurred in Google's marine protected areas layer which I blogged about earlier. I'll try once again to send a message to get these corrected. Sigh.Anyway, the lovely closeup of the area around Labrador and Sentosa's natural shore shows the sediment plume nearby, probably due to the dredging and coastal works for the Pasir Panjang Container Port extension which has been going on for years now.

Some comments on Google Ocean for Singapore from the media:

Although there is limited content at the moment on display, the resources are expected to grow richer as users add and share their own content in the form of photographs, videos and articles.

Marketing manager of Google Southeast Asia, Derek Callow, said: "There's a wealth of data from user-generated content. We're a region that's got a lot of coastlines, a lot of learning opportunities and tourist spots, but also some real environmental challenges."

And the environmental challenges include pollution and endangered marine life.

Executive director of the Singapore Environment Council, Howard Shaw, said: "There is a lack of information in this region and the region we call the Coral Triangle, which contains the richest biodiversity of anywhere in the planet, exceeding that of the South American Amazon rainforests even."

Delay in construction of major industrial plant on Jurong Island

German chemicals group Lanxess has pushed back the construction of a butyl rubber facility to the third quarter of next year, from the originally planned January. This is the first major industrial investment to be delayed in Singapore since the global financial crisis began

“We have decided to put off some investment projects given the decline in demand for chemical products we are seeing throughout the world.”

This high-tech plant was expected to create some 200 engineering and other high-value jobs. In addition, the Economic Development Board said at that time that the plant helps “to move our chemicals industry towards higher value-added downstream activities — beyond commodities into specialties’’.

Chemical plant delayed
Lanxess sees drop in demand for products, has to conserve cash
Esther Fung, Today Online 20 Dec 08;

IN WHAT is the first major industrial investment to be delayed in Singapore since the global financial crisis began, German chemicals group Lanxess has pushed back the construction of its Jurong Island plant to the third quarter of next year, from the originally planned January.

Lanxess said it had to conserve cash and revise its plans to cope with the economic downturn.

In February, the company said construction of the €400-million ($835-million) butyl rubber facility was expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Lanxess now expects operations on the 20,000-sqm site to start in 2012.

The announcement yesterday will not affect the current 88 Lanxess employees in Singapore and Vietnam. Its operations in Singapore include a microbiology laboratory and its regional marketing headquarters.

“We have decided to put off some investment projects given the decline in demand for chemical products we are seeing throughout the world,” said Mr Axel Heitmann, chairman of the Board of Management of Lanxess, in a statement on Friday.

“This will ensure the necessary financial flexibility for the difficult fiscal year 2009.”

Lanxess chose to locate its third butyl rubber facility in Singapore to tap the growing demand in Asia for synthetic rubber used to make vehicle tires, said Mr Heitmann in February.

This high-tech plant was expected to create some 200 engineering and other high-value jobs. In addition, the Economic Development Board said at that time that the plant helps “to move our chemicals industry towards higher value-added downstream activities — beyond commodities into specialties’’.

Lanxess’ plans for capacity expansions in Germany and Belgium and a planned move of its headquarters in Germany will also be postponed.

Although sales in Asia-Pacific rose 31.4 per cent in the third quarter, Lanxess said in its statement it is seeing a worldwide decline in demand in the fourth quarter.

The firm also expects demand to be very weak in the first quarter of next year and is preparing for a difficult year ahead.

“If demand stays at its current low level, we will implement further measures globally,” addedMr Heitmann.

He did not elaborate on what these measures would be.

Jurong Island to expand

"Continuing reclamation on Jurong Island will result in a land mass of about 3,200 hectares."

from Jurong Island: Developing and Integrated World Class Petroleum and Petrochemical Hub on the Chemical and Process Engineering Centre, the National University of Singapore.

To cope with an expanding island, work on a second fire station was started on the Island. It will be equipped with Hazmat or Hazardous Material response capabilities. With two operational fire stations, the Singapore Civil Defence Force is confident it can respond to an emergency at any location on the island within eight minutes.

Profile of Jurong Island on Google Earth, downloaded today.

Aerial view of Jurong Island in 1996.
Jurong Island lies just opposite Cyrene Reefs, rich with seagrasses and marine life. Photo taken this year, 2008.

Second fire station on Jurong Island to be ready by end 2009
Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia 18 Dec 08;

SINGAPORE: Jurong Island will be getting a second fire station by the end of 2009. When completed, the new Banyan Fire Station will effectively double the personnel and vehicle count deployed on the island to deal with industrial emergencies.

At the ground breaking ceremony on Thursday, Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the new Banyan Fire Station is another vital addition to Singapore's overall safety and security plan.

When operational, it will be equipped with Hazmat or Hazardous Material response capabilities.

It will complement Jurong Island Fire Station, which was built in 1999.

The island is a key installation that is home to numerous petroleum refinery, chemical and other industrial complexes.

Mr Shanmugam said: "Jurong Island has achieved significant developments over the years and is now recognised as one of the world's largest integrated chemical complexes which brings with it the challenges of managing such a complex operating environment."

He stressed that with the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, there is a compelling need to be vigilant and prepared to handle any situation.

The new fire station will span 5,000 square metres, housing 15 SCDF operational vehicles and about 100 personnel.

The new Banyan Fire Station is strategically located at the centre of the Jurong Island extension. With continuing reclamation, the Jurong Island land mass will be about 3,200 hectares.

With two operational fire stations, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is confident it can respond to an emergency at any location on the island within eight minutes. - CNA/vm

Second fire station to be built on Jurong Island
Straits Times 19 Dec 08;

A SECOND fire station will be built on Jurong Island to handle the increase in activity on the island after its expansion.

In a press statement yesterday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that with the current expansion of Jurong Island, it is crucial to expand its operational capabilities to ensure optimal response and coverage.

Scheduled for completion in December next year, Banyan Fire Station will house about 100 SCDF personnel and a fleet of up to 15 operational vehicles.

The new station, together with the existing Jurong Island Fire Station, will be able to respond within eight minutes to any emergency on the island.

On top of being a regular fire station, it will also be able to respond to emergencies involving hazardous materials. This will be critical, given that the station's area of operation is one of the largest petrochemical hubs in the world.

Speaking at the Banyan Fire Station's groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam pointed out the need to stay focused on developing and sustaining the level of community vigilance and preparedness.

'The recent terror attacks in India underscore the compelling need for all to be constantly vigilant as these incidents can happen anytime, anywhere.'

ESTHER TAN

Raffles Lighthouse: Singapore's Southernmost point

Raffles Lighthouse is what Singapore's reefs might be if we don't mess with them.

It is located on the tiny island of Pulau Satumu, which is ringed by stupendously rich reefs.

There was a flurry of articles today about the very lucky (to us) people who work at the lighthouse on Pulau Satumu.

As part of Singapore Maritime Week, an exhibition “From Lighthouses to Electronic Charts: An Exhibition” will be held at VivoCity, Central Court A, from Friday to Sunday, 10am to 9.30pm. The exhibits include models of lighthouses and a life-size buoy used to mark sunken wrecks.

Here's some titbits about Raffles Lighthouse from the media articles

Free Sammy the Whale Shark

The juvenile whale shark in Dubai's Atlantis hotel is illegal as it does not have CITES papers. There are calls for its release as reported in Gulf News today.

"As far as we know there is no permit issued from the CITES office in Dubai," said the CITES-linked source.

"This hotel for example, has the right to rescue an animal but they need a permit to keep it and they have to inform the authorities. The whole country knows there is a whale shark at this hotel but we have not been officially made aware of it."

Also reported on deeper blue

Although it was initially reported that the shark would only be kept until it had recovered from an unspecified medical problem, Mr Leibman Atlantis Managing Director said there were no plans to release it. In "Dubai’s new dream hotel has a nightmare opening week" in the National newspaper, he says “I’m not sure where that statement came from,” he said.

He has also told 7 days “We have probably the most talented marine science people in the industry monitoring it and making sure it is well.”

Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, environmental advisor for Emirates Diving Association, says he has seen the whale shark and believes it should be put back into the Arabian Gulf. “It should be tagged and released, the sooner the better,” he told 7DAYS. “I know Atlantis is under pressure at the moment because they have only just opened, but we’ve been told they would release the whale shark. “They are using it for educational awareness. But they will have to release it because it can grow up to more than ten metres - it’s common sense.”

Other links to the whale shark in Dubai

• Dubai resort with dolphins and whale shark opens
• Dubai’s new dream hotel has a nightmare opening week The National 4 Oct 08
• Dubai resort with dolphins and whale shark opens
  Dubai ups ante with $1.5B hotel on palm island
  Adam Schreck and Barbara Surk, Associated Press 22 Sep 08;
  
• Whale shark in Atlantis hotel aquarium to be released
  Emmanuelle Landais,Gulf News 9 Sep 08;
• Atlantis, the palm continues marine leadership with rescue of whale shark Al Bawaba 10 Sep 08
  

Links to whale sharks at Sentosa's Integrated Resort

• SPCA stands up for whale sharks at Sentosa
• Whale shark at Sentosa: some recent comments
• Whale shark at Sentosa: thin edge of the wedge
  

Latest posts on the Dubai whale shark

• Sammy the whale shark: focus on accrediation
  
• Sammy the whale shark: facebook groups set up

New Google layer for marine protected areas

The layer allows you to share photos and stories of YOUR shore!

From the Official MPA blog, "this layer not only shows you where we have protected the sea, but which also allows you to get involved by sharing pictures, videos and stories about your local sites in a way not previously possible.

In doing so we will make history by working together to provide the first illustrated picture of global ocean protection of wildlife and habitats using Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)".

Unfortunately, I couldn't get the layer to load up on my google earth :-(

Update: got it to load, and the three MPAs are Sungei Buloh, Labrador and Southern Islands. Only the location for Labrador is wrong! It's indicated as being right in the middle of the Pasir Panjang terminal...Oops...wonder how this can be fixed.

The details for Labrador says "Part of this MPA is no-take (fishing and removal of other resources is prohibited)" although fishing is permitted on Labrador jetty. And it states that the reserve was established in 1951. Other details include "Not yet known sq km of sea, 0.16 sq km total area including land"

See also Google Earth's Protect Planet Ocean website. This is part of Google Earth Outreach, set up last year to allow non-profit organisations around the world to showcase the work they do.

Singapore falls under the East Asia Sea section of this site. And the regional coordinator is Moi Khim Tan from Malaysia. There are some photos of the Vietnam Nha Trang MPA uploaded on the site.

More about this on New Google tool reveals marine protected areas Daniel Woolls, Associated Press 7 Oct 08

New Sentosa shore attractions in 2009

Just announced, "a water sports centre, with a fleet of charter boats" and "a S$15 million simulated wave surfing facility, where surfers can ride a 10-foot barrelling wave" at Siloso Beach.

map from the Sentosa website

The "ka-ching" effect? "the new attractions and the opening of the integrated resort is expected to double the number of visitors annually" from 6.1-6.2 million a year to as high as 15 million by the year 2015.

Also reported, Sentosa will launch a new 10-year masterplan for the development of the island at the end of this year. The last masterplan was completed earlier this year.

From the sentosa corporate site:

By 2010 when its S$12-billion ten-year strategic masterplan is completed ahead of schedule, the island will bring Singapore closer to the realization of the country's Tourism 2015 target of attracting 17 million tourists and generating S$30 billion in revenue. Sentosa will also have more than 10,000 residents living in 2,500 luxurious Sentosa Cove homes. By then, a projected workforce of about 16,000 will be committed to provide unique and memorable experiences to our guests.

The Sentosa offering will be enhanced and strengthened with the addition of South East Asia's first Universal Studios theme park built within the S$5.75-billion Resorts World at Sentosa development. Sentosa expects to make more than S$3 billion in revenues with this mega development as well as progressive developments in our services, accommodations, events and attractions.

The Today newspaper asked the new chief executive of Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), Mike Barclay:

Will the changing visitor demographics — a higher-end crowd — transform the essence of Sentosa, long the laid-back getaway for Singapore's families and students?

What of some concerns that parts of the island might be set aside for access only by the rich and privileged, when Resorts World opens its doors?

Mr Barclay gave his assurance that the only thing that will change is the look of the place, not the feel.

He also said that SDC will engage all stakeholders in discussions before any developments are built, adding that he has arranged to meet residents of Sentosa Cove next week.

Various corners of the island will be differentiated with their own distinct character, he added, to cater to the needs of different people. “There will be focused areas for play, like the beaches; some areas will be relatively untouched and unspoilt; and others will be quieter and more contemplative,” he said.

For instance, the amount of greenery on the island will not be disturbed. Sentosa has also started a programme involving nine primary schools, where students come in to learn about nature and help with conservation efforts.

There were no further details on these issues on the sentosa website as of this morning.

Some Background: Sentosa manages these Southern Islands of Singapore: Sentosa Island, Kusu Island, Seringat-Kias and Lazarus, St. John's Island, Sisters Islands, Pulau Jong and Pulau Hantu.Sentosa has some natural shores left that are still teeming with marine life. So much so that public walks are conducted on these shores by the Naked Hermit Crabs, and the seagrass meadows on this shore is one of the sites monitored by TeamSeagrass.

Related links on the wildfilms blog

• A saltwater lake at the Southern Islands?
• Fate of the Southern Islands
• Photos of Sentosa's natural shores on wildsingapore flickr, including natural shores destroyed by the development of the Integrated Resort.