SINGAPORE: A collision between a Singapore-registered container vessel and a Gibraltar-registered container vessel off Pasir Gudang Port, Johor Malaysia on Tuesday (Jan 3) resulted in about 300 tonnes of oil spilled in the surrounding waters, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Wednesday. 

In a press release, MPA said it was notified of the collision between Singapore-registered container vessel Wan Hai 301 and Gibraltar-registered container vessel APL Denver by the Johor Port Authority (JPA) at about 11.50pm on Tuesday. 

There have been no reports of injury and traffic in the East Johor Straits and Singapore’s port operations remains unaffected, the Singapore authority said. 

According to MPA, APL Denver’s ship master reported that one of the ship’s bunker tanks had sustained damage resulting in about 300 tonnes of oil spillage.

JPA has deployed four anti-pollution craft and an oil boom around APL Denver to contain the oil spill. 

In Singapore, two oil patches were spotted along the western coastlines of Pulau Ubin (near the OBS jetty) and Nenas Channel, MPA said, adding that it has activated nine anti-pollution craft with dispersant-spraying capabilities to clean up the spilled oil. 

Two skimmers and booms have been placed off the OBS Jetty and Nenas Channel to contain the oil patches, it added. 

Since the time of the collision, MPA has been working closely with NParks and AVA to “manage the incident”, it said. As the tide is expected to move eastwards on Wednesday evening, oil absorbent booms to protect the mangroves and mudflats along the northeastern coasts of Pulau Ubin – including Chek Jawa wetlands – have also been set up, said NParks.

“In addition, booms have also been set up to protect the mangroves at Coney Island Park and Pasir Ris Park,” added an NParks spokesperson.

Oil containment booms and buoys deployed at Serangoon Reservoir. (Photo: Vanessa Lim)

Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, PUB said oil patches were not detected in the seawaters near the coastal reservoirs, such as the Punggol, Serangoon and Lower Seletar Reservoirs. “Raw water in the reservoirs is not affected,” it said.

As a precautionary measure, PUB said oil absorbent and oil containment booms have been deployed in the sea near the tidal gates of these reservoirs to block off any possible oil residue.

MPA said that, as a flag state – a state under whose laws a commercial vessel is registered – it will investigate the cause of the collision. Both APL Denver and Wan Hai 301 are currently berthed at Pasir Gudang Port and are in “stable condition”, the Singapore authority added.

(Additional reporting by Vanessa Lim)

SINGAPORE — The Raffles Country Club has become the second country club in Singapore to make way for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR).

The first was the Jurong Country Club, which closed on Dec 31.

Raffles Country Club, which will have to cease operations by July 31, 2018 — some 10 years before its 30-year lease is due to expire (on Oct 31, 2028) — was deemed most suitable to run HSR tracks at ground level before it goes underground towards the Jurong East Terminus.

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the decision was made after having “undertaken extensive reviews … to carefully select and consider all options”.

The club is one of Singapore’s oldest, having started operations in August 1988. Spanning 146ha, the 2,650-member club has two 18-hole golf courses, as well as facilities including tennis and badminton courts, jackpot rooms, and six dining establishments.

The club’s remaining tenure became an issue in 2013 when plans for a S$26 million makeover of one of its golf courses — reportedly the highest sum for golf course redevelopment — face objections from members who felt the club was jumping the gun, given the uncertainty over its lease renewal.

However, in January 2013, the Government had announced that some golf courses may have to go in order to free up land for other uses as part of measures to cope with a growing population.

The Ministry of Law noted then that there were 18 golf courses which occupy 1,500ha of land — or about 2 per cent of Singapore’s total land area — and the leases of some of the courses would not be renewed after they expire.

The following year, Keppel Club and Marina Bay Golf Club were told that their leases would not be renewed after 2021. 

(click to enlarge)

SINGAPORE: Members of the Raffles Country Club (RCC) were surprised by an announcement on Wednesday (Jan 4) that the Government would acquire land the club sits on for the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) and for a Cross Island Line depot.

“Obviously we’re deeply disappointed to hear the news. I think we will work with the authorities to make sure we deal with them fairly, if there’s any compensation,” said General Committee president Paul Singh. He declined to go into specifics, saying the club needed to hold further talks with authorities.

Still, some members told Channel NewsAsia they had a sense that a land acquisition was on the cards. After news of Jurong Country Club’s acquisition for the HSR project was broke, RCC member Maria Teo said she and others at the club had speculated that RCC would lose part of its two 18-hole golf courses, but not both.

Another member, Theresa Ng said she paid about S$40,000 for the membership about 20 years ago. She and Ms Teo said they had no plans to get another golf course membership after RCC closes.

A former Jurong Country Club member who wanted to be known as Arthur said he and a few others bought RCC membership in February 2016, and were “prepared” for such an acquisition. But they were not expecting the move to come so soon.

He paid about S$20,000 for weekday membership. “I will not sell my membership now. Nobody will buy. If they compensate me, I’m lucky. I won’t lose that much”.

He is in two minds about getting another golf club membership. “Even if you want another membership, you’re scared. You know – is the Government going to acquire it too? I don’t know if Sentosa or Tanah Merah or Laguna Club will be next. Will Singapore eventually end up without golf courses?”

Golf club membership broker Fion Phua said about 10 existing RCC members have contacted her for advice since they were informed of the notice. One caller had submitted an application for membership at the club on Tuesday and that it was pending approval from the club.

Ms Phua, who is sales director of Tee-Up Marketing Enterprises, said members were asking her if they should sell their membership or wait for Government compensation. “The membership is currently between S$32,000 to S$33,000. If they sell it now, minus the transfer fee of S$21,400, they might get about S$10,000 for the membership. I told them it might be better to hold out for the compensation, and in the meantime, enjoy the golf course and make more memories there until it is closed down.”

RCC has about 2,650 golfing members. Memberships are going for between S$32,500 to S$34,000 based on a check of club membership broker websites.

The club will be required to vacate its premises by Jul 31, 2018. 

Additional reporting by Lianne Chia and Liyana Othman.

SINGAPORE: A collision between a Singapore-registered container vessel and a Gibraltar-registered container vessel off Pasir Gudang Port, Johor Malaysia on Tuesday (Jan 3) resulted in about 300 tonnes of oil spillage in the surrounding waters, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Wednesday. 

In a press release, MPA said it was notified of the collision between Singapore-registered container vessel WAN HAI 301 and Gibraltar-registered container vessel APL DENVER by the Johor Port Authority (JPA) at about 11.50pm on Tuesday. 

There have been no reports of injury and traffic in the East Johor Straits and Singapore’s port operations remains unaffected, the Singapore authority said. 

According to MPA, APL DENVER’s ship master reported that one of the ship’s bunker tanks had sustained damage resulting in about 300 tonnes of oil spillage.

JPA has deployed four anti-pollution craft on site and an oil boom around APL DENVER to contain the oil spill. 

In Singapore, some oil patches were spotted and the spillage has been contained off the western side of Pulau Ubin, MPA said, adding that it has activated eight anti-pollution craft with dispersant spraying capabilities to clean up the spilled oil. 

As the tide is expected to move eastwards on Wednesday evening, oil absorbent booms to protect the mangroves and mudflats along the northeastern coasts of Pulau Ubin – including Chek Jawa Wetlands – have also been set up, said NParks.

“In addition, booms have also been set up to protect the mangroves at Coney Island Park and Pasir Ris Park,” added an NParks spokesperson.

Oil containment booms and buoys deployed at Serangoon Reservoir. (Photo: Vanessa Lim)

Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, PUB said oil patches were not detected in the seawaters near the coastal reservoirs, such as the Punggol, Serangoon and Lower Seletar Reservoirs. “Raw water in the reservoirs is not affected,” it said.

As a precautionary measure, PUB said oil absorbent and oil containment booms have been deployed in the sea near the tidal gates of these reservoirs to block off any possible oil residue.

MPA will be investigating the cause of the collision.

(Additional reporting by Vanessa Lim)