Beting Bemban Besar after the storm

A small team head through the storm to survey this humungous submerged reef near the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong. 

Photo by Richard Kuah

They make all kinds of special finds including Knobbly sea stars and many colourful marinelife commonly seen on our reefs. The corals and seagrasses seem alright. I had to skip this survey to attend another advocacy event. So much thanks to Richard for making sure the team was safe.

Terumbu Hantu in the face of Sudong reclamation

Despite being next to petrochemical plants on Pulau Bukom and surrounded by heavy vessel parking, this little gem with rich reefs is one of our favourite sites.

Today we survey within sight of the ongoing massive reclamation on Pulau Sudong. We are relieved to see the corals are still doing well. The rest of the team make all the special finds, I will update later.

Terumbu Raya in the face of Sudong reclamation

We return to Terumbu Raya East for the first time in 4 years! Although it lies just off the petrochemical plants on Pulau Bukom it is still very much alive. With sprinkles of corals and seagrasses.

The rest of the team saw sharks, sea turtles, special anemones and other marine life.

First look at Terumbu Menalung next to Sudong reclamation

Terumbu Menalung is a tiny submerged reef flat that lies very close to the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong. Thanks to the team who surveyed this for the first time and shared all their observations.

Photo by Rachael Goh

They encounter a wide variety of corals and marine life, including the endangered Merten's carpet anemone. I was with another team that surveyed Terumbu Bemban at the same tide. What we saw in both locations suggests that there is good effort to minimise impact of the large reclamation works.

Checking Terumbu Bemban for impacts from the Sudong reclamation

We check up on one of our favourite sites, a submerged reef flat that is the closest to the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong. What we saw suggests that there is good effort to minimise impact of the large reclamation works.

It was a relief to see healthy corals on Western Terumbu Bemban nearest to the reclamation site. There is denser growth of seagrasses here too. While the rich reefy patch on Eastern Terumbu Bemban seems to be okay. A separate team also makes our first survey of tiny Terumbu Menalung nearby. I will update later with all their observations.

Pulau Sudong reclamation to relocate noisy RSAF training away from mainland?

An article by Alert 5, a military aviation news site, has insightful details behind the ongoing Pulau Sudong reclamation.

From Port Marine Notice No. 133 of 2025, dated 08 Oct 2025

The article suggests extending the existing Pulau Sudong runway to 3 km, will enable the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to conduct noisy F-35B landing training at the offshore location. Noise from F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing fighter aircraft has already prompted Japan to relocate training to remote sites. The first of Singapore's F-35s will arrive in Tengah airbase in 2029. The Sudong reclamation is scheduled for completion by 2028.

The Sudong extention will also allow other RSAF fixed-wing aircraft to conduct practice landings that are presently carried out at Tengah and Paya Lebar airbases, both surrounded by residential neighborhoods which have increasingly complained about jet noise. 

The current 2km runway at Pulau Sudong functions primarily as an emergency landing point for fighter aircraft. However, the limited runway length means that fighter aircraft landing there in an emergency may require the use of Mobile Aircraft Arrestor Systems installed on both ends of the runway to stop the aircraft in time. The extended 3km runway will provide emergency landing capability for fighters and larger aircraft types with a longer distance for aircraft to decelerate safely, negating the need to deploy the arrestor systems in most situations.

It also provides operational flexibility as the RSAF manages the transition associated with Paya Lebar’s eventual decommissioning after 2030 and Tengah’s expansion.

Is Beting Bemban Besar impacted by the Sudong reclamation?

As evening low tides start, we survey the north-western portion of Beting Bemban Besar, one of our largest submerged reefs. This area faces the ongoing 31ha Pulau Sudong reclamation.

At sunset, I saw some dugong feeding trails! There seagrasses were heavily covered in epiphytes. Corals seemed alright though they seem to be in better condition further away from Sudong. The rest of the team saw special corals, a Giant clam, sea stars, 'Nemos', other reef fishes and other interesting marine life. 

Is Terumbu Bemban impacted by the Sudong reclamation?

The team surveys one of our favourite sites, a submerged reef flat that is the closest to the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong.

So far, the shore is still alive! We didn't check the shore at peak mass coral bleaching last year. So it was a relief to see the coral situation seems as usual. Also a nice to surprise to see denser growths of seagrasses throughout the reef flat. The rest of team find Giant clams, encounter huge jellyfishes, special sea anemone and the usual colourful reef life.

First and last survey of Terumbu Palat

A small team survey a trio of tiny submerged reefs that are likely to be buried in the upcoming Pulau Sudong reclamation.

The team encounter corals and a variety of marine life, including the endangered Merten's carpet anemone. Here's a compilation of their photos, links to their albums at the end of this post.

Will Terumbu Bemban be affected by Pulau Sudong reclamation?

A small team survey one of our favourite sites, this submerged reef flat that is the closest to the Live Firing Area. It is likely to be affected by the reclamation at Pulau Sudong scheduled for end of this year.

We had to wait a while for the sun to rise and the tide to fall before checking out the western shore facing Pulau Sudong. We find a Giant clam, and check out the corals and seagrasses growing well here.

Reclamation at Pulau Sudong

31ha reclamation at East Pulau Sudong will result in loss of corals, seagrass and mangroves. These are likely to affect submerged reefs nearby.

A more detailed biodiversity management plan will be drawn up with the National Parks Board before reclamation works begin. Planned mitigating measures include relocation. As well as habitat restoration after reclamation is completed by 2028. To better support biodiversity and hasten nature’s recolonisation, bio-tiles may be installed on the sea walls.

What is the purpose of this reclamation? There is information that suggests the Pulau Sudong reclamation is intended to relocate noisy RSAF training away from mainland.