Tanjong Beach, the last of three Sentosa Island beaches affected by a major oil spill in June, has reopened for swimming and sea activities, marking a full recovery for the island’s popular waterfronts.
According to a statement by the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) on September 3, the beach, which was most severely impacted by the spill, is now safe for public use after regular monitoring confirmed that water quality had returned to stable and acceptable levels.
“This marks the full reopening of all beaches on Sentosa Island,” the SDC announced, expressing gratitude to the workers, volunteers, businesses, and partner agencies that collaborated on the extensive cleanup and restoration efforts.
The swift reopening of Tanjong Beach, originally expected to take three months, highlights the effective teamwork between national agencies and local stakeholders. Sentosa’s Siloso Beach and Palawan Beach had already reopened on August 3 and August 17, respectively, following the gradual improvement of water conditions.
The closures followed a June 14 incident at Pasir Panjang Terminal when a dredging vessel, Vox Maxima, flagged under the Netherlands, collided with the stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour, resulting in an oil spill. The spill spread over large areas of Singapore’s coastal waters, leading to the suspension of water activities across Sentosa Island, the Southern Islands, and East Coast Park.
While the cleanup at East Coast Park’s beachfront has been completed, restrictions on water activities remain. The National Parks Board (NParks) announced on August 11 via Facebook that only “non-primary contact water sports,” such as kayaking, could resume. However, NParks advised against activities involving direct contact with water, including swimming, wakeboarding, and stand-up paddling, until the water quality stabilizes.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng reiterated the caution, stating that swimming at East Coast Park would only be permitted once water conditions improve. In his August 11 Facebook post, he suggested that visitors keen on swimming should instead head to Changi Beach, Siloso Beach, or Kusu Island, where the National Environment Agency has allowed sea sports to resume.
Elsewhere, water activities and swimming resumed at Eagle Bay Beach on Lazarus Island on August 13, with beachfront businesses, including those offering water sports, reopening to the public.
Tanjong Beach’s return to normal signals the end of a challenging chapter for Sentosa Island, as it reclaims its position as a top destination for water sports and leisure activities in Singapore.