Tuas South Coast

 

Since Tuas South is being reclaimed and developed fast, a trip to this area is well necessitated. Especially to check out the Sultan Shoal Lighthouse!

Key Landmarks Dec 2022

To do this, we skippered a boat to check the sites out before they become extinct!

The first step of course, was to check the boat out before driving it off from Raffles Marina, Singapore's Western Most Marina.

The boat used: A model called Kingfisher 18

Next, we departed Raffles Marina (famed for it's privately ran lighthouse) towards Tuas South!

Off from Raffles Marina!

In Tuas South, there were many sights! One of the one which amazed me was the 'sand dunes' created with reclaimed materials which is going to be the next phase of the Tuas mega port.

Sand Dunes in the Horizon

Sembcorp Tuas

And little known, Singapore has it's own Windmill. Spotted one right at the southern most part of Singapore.

Right at Tuas south: A popular Deep Fishing Spot and Windmill!

Last but not least, before it became lost in time, we visited the legendary Sultan Shoal Lighthouse!

Sultan Shoal Lighthouse. Built in 1895.

Sultan Shoal Lighthouse with VITIS Tower

Built in 1895, Sultan Shoal and Raffles Lighthouse once demarcated the Singapore Port Waters Limit.

According to sources like (https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/tag/sultan-shoal/), Sultan Shoal reclamation in 1970s meant no longer it has to be drenched in water. 

The lighthouse itself has got a past. It seems to be the case before the 1970s every Ramadan, the Mufti would make regular treks to Sultan Shoal (or Mount Faber) to sight the crescent marking the end of the holy month. I think he must have been looking forward to his yearly boat trip to the drenched shoal!

(https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/muslims-in-singapore-to-celebrate-hari-raya-puasa-on-tuesday-may-3-mufti)

Tuas 2nd Link

In no time, we were back at Raffles Marina looking at the Jam at Tuas 2nd Link. What a day!

Let's take a look at how Tuas looks like before it changes too fast.

Taken from Google Maps

Taken from Navionics Dec 2022

Pulau Satumu / Raffles Lighthouse

 

Raffles Lighthouse @ Pulau Satumu

Situated within the prohibited waters in Singapore, Pulau Satumu, which hosts Raffles Lighthouse is difficult to access. But through an authorised visit, we were fortunate enough to visit the lighthouse!

The Island is not only the Southern Most Point of Singapore. It also marks the southern point of the Singapore Port Limit.

The journey to the island and back was marked with a few highlights. The first was a ruin beacon off Monggok Sebarok.

Next was Shell SBM. Shell SBM is a buoy linked to Bukom Island via a submarine pipe. Apparently, the purpose of the SBM is to accommodate VLCC which require way deeper waters that what that terminals at Bukom can accommodate. 

Location of Monggok Sebarok and Shell SBM

Ruin off Monggok Sebarok

Pulau Satumu also has a role to play, related to the Shell SBM Buoy. When there is a VLCC approaching the SBM, The signal on a Semaphore Tower at Pulau Satumu would light up to warn passing vessels of a VLCC coming towards the SBM.

Raffles Lighthouse

Raffles Lighthouse itself is mended continuously by 2 lightkeepers, with their duty rotated every 10 days. I must say they have done an excellent job of keeping the place squeaky clean!

Squeaky clean kitchen

Lighthouse Layout

Raffles Lighthouse Bench

The lighthouse also hosts a small museum for visitors (during their rare visit), to find out more about its history.

Lantern at top of lighthouse

Lagoon with clear waters at Pulau Satumu. Can see lots of Reefs below!

From Left to Right: Pemalang, P Senang, P Biola 

Map of P Satumu on Navionics in 2022 and Surrounding Islands.

That is all for today!

South of Pasir Panjang Road

Pasir Panjang Power Station

Pasir Panjang and Telok Blangah have a long history in Singapore. As you may guess from the names, these areas are along the seafront, given that Pasir means "Sand" and Telok means "Bay"

It was recently published that Keppel Club will soon be returned to the government for housing projects. Oh no! Time for a post about that area and its surroundings.

Starting on the West Most part of this post is the Pasir Panjang area.

Taken from NAS: Prob published in 1959

As we can see, before large reclamation projects, Pasir Panjang was already a hive of activity. From the green space on the left (which I can only assume is where Pasir Panjang MRT station is sitting on now), to the right, there is a swimming pool (Haw Par Swimming Pool), a Secondary School (Pasir Panjang Secondary) as well as several round tanks in what would be Pasir Panjang Power Station which still stands (no longer in operation).

Also from NAS dated 1978. Blue Circle is Yew Siang Road where I take reference from.

If we walk Pasir Panjang Park today, we will know from the signboards that the canal (marked in red) was the former coast line. Therefore, we can assume early reclamation resulted in Pasir Panjang Wharf being situated on it. On the right are three schools, Pasir Panjang Secondary School, Batu Berlayar School and Labrador School.

Let's take a look at how these places look like now!

Starting from the left, most of Pasir Panjang Wharf have now turned into Pasir Panjang Port.

Pasir Panjang Port (Taken by Me)

The one circled in blue (Now Shopback Office and Labrador OBS site), and beside but not shown here, the CDE building is probably the old building of the now gone secondary school.

From NAS again 2008 Nautical Chart

In 2008, we can see Pasir Panjang Wharves taking a large area. All the blocks are gone now save for Block 1 (Circled in Red). The rest has become Pasir Panjang Port.

This block located at 151 Pasir Panjang Road, is now an area where there is free parking for those going to offshore islands such as Pulau Semakau, Pulau Sebarok and Pulau Bukum. There is a hive of activity round the clock.

Let's take a closer look at Block 1 and Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal Today.

Inside of Block 1.

Shore Bird in our urban environment

Inside Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal

Only Block 1 Remains. 

Just right behind it are four unmistakable tanks. These were once belonging to Pasir Panjang Power Station.

These old buildings now are used for arts events.

We had the chance to enter the power station for an event. Let's check out the interior.

The Power Station itself with Arts Event Lighting.

Previously there were cables linking to different parts of SG including "ERSKINE HILL".

This place was also responsible for providing power to Bukom via Subsea Cables

High Ceilings of the power station

Pasir Panjang Power Station

That's all for now!

Pang Sua Canal End

 

A gem awaits those who goes to the end of Pang Sua Canal. 

Pang Sua Canal leads to what it is known now as Kranji Reservoir, used to be Kranji River. A waterbody that cuts in between industrial Sungei Kadut and Choa Chu Kang, it is a peaceful place with nice sunset.

Check out the pictures.

Pang Sua River

Path Adjoining Pang Sua River

End of Pang Sua River. Towers are the BBC Relay Station

If you have the fortitude to walk to the end of Pang Sua River, you will be greeted by an awesome view with views of the BBC relay towers, Kranji Dam as well as JB.

The End of Pang Sua Canal is at coordinates: 1.420532, 103.739326.

Great Stuff in a place which is still relatively unknown and underdeveloped.

From Google Maps Mar 2022. Grey Pin indicates Pang Sua Canal End.

Satellite Image: 2022. Red Pin is Pang Sua Canal End.