Documenting Nature Workshop
News from Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
painted-milky stork hybrid stork & snake dinner @ SBWR - 01Nov2015
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The Atlas Moth Chronicles – Episode 2
Bird Ecology Study Group
Police investigate new hotspot at govt office in Palangkaraya as ‘important’ documents go up in smoke
Mongabay Environmental News
Samantha Boh, Audrey Tan, The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Nov 15;
SINGAPORE is enjoying its longest stretch of clear skies in close to two months, coinciding with the wetter weather recently.
The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) has remained in the moderate range of 51 to 100 for the last five days.
The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) told The Straits Times that the recent increase in rain has helped to ease the haze situation in the region, which could further improve in the coming months.
"Over the next few months, the prevailing winds would shift to blow predominantly from the north-east or north-west and may help to further ease the haze situation and lower the likelihood of transboundary haze," it said.
However, winds might still temporarily shift to blow from the south-west on one or two days, which could bring the haze back here.
This would also depend on the location and extent of the fires in Sumatra and the incidence of rain, the MSS noted.
Experts said last week that the change in wind direction was due to the current inter-monsoon season, which is expected to transition into the north-east monsoon wet season in mid-November.
The MSS added that the El Nino, which has exacerbated dry weather conditions in the region in recent months, is not known to have a significant effect on rainfall patterns during the north-east monsoon, which typically occurs between mid-November and January.
For today, the prevailing winds are forecast to be weak and variable in direction, and thundery showers are forecast for the afternoon, said the National Environment Agency.
Visibility is expected to be in the normal range and air quality is expected to again be in the moderate range, it added.
Afternoon rain expected in first 2 weeks of November: NEA
"Short-duration thundery showers" are forecast mostly in the afternoon during the first fortnight of November, says the National Environment Agency.
Channel NewsAsia 2 Nov 15;
SINGAPORE: Thundery showers in the afternoon are expected through the next fortnight of the month due to inter-monsoon conditions, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Monday (Nov 2).
“Short-duration thundery showers” are forecast mostly in the afternoon on six to eight days during the first two weeks of November, said NEA, adding that the showers “may be heavy at times”. Dry and warm weather conditions can also be expected, with the maximum daily temperature forecast to be between 33 and 34 degrees Celsius, the agency added.
“Based on long-term statistics, November is the second wettest month in the year, after December. The rainfall for the first fortnight of November 2015 is likely to be near normal,” said NEA.
Singapore received below-average rainfall in the hazy month of October, with the lowest level of 52mm and 60mm recorded around Paya Lebar. Tuas saw the highest level of rainfall of between 151mm and 176mm last month.
“October 2015 marked the fifth consecutive month since June 2015 where the monthly total rainfall averaged across all rainfall stations island wide was significantly below the long-term monthly average,” NEA added.
- CNA/xq
Hans Nicholas Jong, The Jakarta Post 2 Nov 15;
The downpours that have been falling for five straight days in parts of the country have begun to reduce the number of hot spots indicating forest fires scattered throughout the archipelago.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Saturday that the combination of artificial rain and natural rain falling across Sumatra and Kalimantan from Oct. 26 had helped tremendously in fighting the raging forest fires.
“All indicators, such as hot spots, visibility and air quality have improved significantly,” he said. “If previously, the number of hot spots amounted to thousands, for example 2,218 on Oct. 24, today it’s only 402.”
The rain, which has followed the prolonged dry season resulting from the El Niño weather phenomenon, also helped increase the visibility in many major cities in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
“If in the past it was less than 500 meters on average, now it’s already much better,” Sutopo said.
The visibility in Padang, West Sumatra, was 4,000 m; 7,000 m in Pekanbaru, Riau; 2,800 m in Jambi; and 800 m in Palembang, South Sumatra on Sunday.
Kalimantan reportedly enjoyed better visibility on Saturday: 2,000 m in Pontianak, West Kalimantan; 1,500 m in Palangkaraya; and 6,000 m in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that the rain would last until this weekend and thus the government is intensifying its cloud seeding effort to induce more rain.
The fires raging across land and forests in Indonesia have destroyed more than 2 million hectares of land in three months, earning them the accolade of one of the worst ecological disasters in human
history.
According to the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan), 2,089,911 ha had been scorched by the ongoing fires from June 1 to Oct. 20.
“If we break down the figure, 600,000 ha of peatland and 1.5 million ha of other types of land [have been burned],” said Parwati Sofan, head of the environmental and disaster mitigation division at Lapan, in Jakarta on Friday.
Two million ha is the equivalent of 1.9 million soccer fields, or 32 times the area of Jakarta or four times the size of Bali.
Both Sumatra and Kalimantan, the two regions where the annual forest fires usually occur, were hit the hardest, with 832,999 ha and 806,817 ha of land burned in those areas, respectively.
However, Papua, which usually does not suffer from forest fires, had the third-largest area of burned land with 353,191 ha.
Moreover, Papua province was the province with the second-largest burned area with 344,980 ha, only surpassed by South Sumatra with 359,100 ha.
“If we look at past years, such as in 2013 and 2014, there were no forest fires [in Papua], but suddenly it ranked third [in size of burned land]. There must be something,” Sutopo said on Friday.
He said the sudden appearance of forest fires in Papua might have something to do with a massive agricultural project called the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) program.
Haze Situation In Indonesia Improves
Bernama 2 Nov 15;
JAKARTA, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- After being engulfed in haze for nearly four months, the situation is now improving with clearer skies throughout most of Indonesia.
According to the website of the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics Body (BMKG), the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in areas hit by haze, as of this evening, was below 150.
Even in Palangkaraya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, which was previously shrouded in thick haze with API readings of over 2,000, the reading now stands at 100 and the lives of residents in the area were reported to have returned to normal.
Jambi in Sumatra recorded an API of 150 compared with 200 this morning while in Palembang, the API reading has dropped from 235 to 150.
The bureau chief in Jambi, Ashari when contacted by Bernama, said the haze began to thin in the region since last week.
He said the thick smoke had disappeared after the authorities used various methods to wet the soil, especially the peatlands, which were on fire the last three months.
Head of the Environment Agency of Riau, Yulwirawati Moesa, said an emergency air pollution status reported in Riau, due to a forest fire in the region, ended yesterday (Nov 1) as the air quality changed for the better due to rain in Riau for the past five days.
The local press reported that Indonesia had lost nearly two million hectares of forests due to the fires for nearly four months.
The fires destroyed 832,999 hectares of forests in Sumatra, 806,817 hectares in Kalimantan and 353,191 hectares in Papua.
The total area burned in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua is 30 times the size of the Special Region of Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia) that covers 740.3 square kilometres or approximately 74,000 hectares.
The fires have forced the indigenous communities out of the forests, and there are allegations that the thick haze has claimed several lives due to acute respiratory tract infections.
Social Affairs Minister, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, was quoted as saying that the government had provided Death Benefit Assistance of Rp15 million (RM1= Rp3,169) to residents who perished in the haze and so far, 10 families had received the assistance.
The local media have reported that the plantation and forest fires in Indonesia this year were the worst, with losses amounting to Rp20 trillion (about RM60 million).
Head of Data, Information, and Public Relations National Agency for Disaster Management, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said the figure was based on the expenses of putting out the fires which cost Rp20 trillion.
The plantation and forest fires this year occurred in South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.
The haze from the forest fires had swept into Malaysia and affected the daily activities of the nation's people until the government was forced to close schools in several states and cancel several recreational activities in open areas.
-- BERNAMA
200 Merapi climbers trapped by forest fires
Thejakartapost.com 2 Nov 15;
Around 200 climbers on Mount Merapi are reportedly trapped on the mountain by forest fires in Selo district.
It was reported by tempo.co that fires in the area first ignited on a cliff near the Post 1 trekking route at around 9 a.m. on Sunday. The fires then began to spread but have not yet fully covered the climbing route.
The Boyolali Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BPBD) Kurniawan Fajar Prasetyo said that his team and Search and Rescue (SAR) teams and local residents were working together. “We are striving to ensure that all hikers can be brought down,” he said as quoted by tempo.co on Sunday.
Kurniawan said most of the climbers departed from the Barameru Post in Selo on Friday. Around 100 out of the 300 hikers that departed to the post have already been evacuated, he said.
Kurniawan further said the BPBD Boyolali had also provided a medical team in anticipation of health problems that might’ve affected the hikers. The health condition of the climbers already reached, he said, had been quite good. Some of the rescued climbers had returned home, he added, while others were still waiting for their friends who remained trapped.
Kurniawan said it was expected that the evacuation process would be completed soon. “We are also striving to prevent the fires from spreading further," said the SAR Boyolali team coordinator.
While evacuating the track, the dispatched personnel were also working on extinguishing the fires around Post 1. If the fires were not immediately extinguished, Kurniawan said, it was possible they would expand further, covering the trekking routes. So far, he added, the team was extinguishing the fires manually.
The cause of the fires and the total area of forest burned down remains unknown.
Michael, 27, a hiker from Salatiga, Central Java, said he was worried when he got information that forests in Mt. Merapi were burning.
Departing to the mountain on Friday evening, Michael, who was climbing with a friend, was picked up by the SAR team when they were at Post 2. “Many climbers have not yet been rescued from there,” he said.
BPBD Boyolali head Nur Khamdani said although most of the hikers had not yet been reached, they were all in safe areas a long way from the fires. Rescue personnel had also set up alternative routes to evacuate the climbers. (mas/ebf)
NURADZIMMAH DAIM New Straits Times 2 Nov 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: The Indonesian government has given its assurance that the perennial haze problem will no longer be an issue next year.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Jakarta, via a meeting involving its Environment and Forestry Ministry on Oct 27, had once again given its assurance that it would adopt preparatory actions to address the forest fires.
"Indonesia had expressed its willingness to finalise the draft of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the subject presented to both countries after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had met president Joko Widodo on Oct 11," he told the Dewan Rakyat.
Wan Junaidi was responding to a supplementary question by Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Zahari (BN-Setiawangsa) who had asked about measures taken by Indonesia to enable Asean countries to be haze-free by 2018.
The minister said one of the proposed measures to address haze issues in the region included the improvement of the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore for information-sharing among members so that a coordinated effort can be arranged to put out forest fires when they occur.
This, he said, was because such fires also occur in Cambodia, Laos and northern Thailand although the intensity differs as these countries do not have huge peat soil areas.
Peat soils are vastly available in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The other initiative, he said, is the Alert Levels, Trigger Points and Actions on Fire Suppression incorporated in the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
These two measures were agreed upon during the 11th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution held in Hanoi, Vietnam recently.
"Appropriate actions must be taken by state members according to the alert level (issued by ASMC). However, there are concerns on the administration in Indonesia as the affected provinces need to declare a state of emergency before central (administration) can take action (on forest fires).
“If it is not declared, Jakarta will not take action. We expect some challenges until this matter is addressed at Indonesian level," said Junaidi in reply to a supplementary question by Datuk Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani).
He said the ministry has yet to determine whether Malaysian companies were involved with the forest fires which had contributed to the haze.
It was previously reported that the bilateral MoU to address the haze is expected to be signed by the year-end after a meeting between both governments to finalise the draft was postponed twice.
AHMAD FAIRUZ OTHMAN New Straits Times 2 Nov 15;
NUSAJAYA: THE Johor government is looking into a proposal to build the first hydroelectric dam in the state on Sungai Johor.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said a few companies were interested in the project, after it was revealed recently by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar that the proposal could be a way to solve the state’s water supply woes.
The project is likely to be located in the upstream portion of Sungai Johor and could cost between RM6 billion and RM7 billion, depending on the model.
Based on an initial proposal being considered by the state executive council and state Economic Planning Unit, the hydroelectric dam could double up as a road that connects west and eastern Johor.
About 65 per cent of the state’s water supply is sourced from Sungai Johor. Seven dams draw raw water from the river and its tributaries.
Hasni said the proposed dam would improve Johor’s water supply infrastructure and provide power to development projects on the state’s east coast.
“Companies have shown interest in the project, but the details cannot be revealed as there have not been any official submissions.
“The state government is also open to proposals from Tenaga Nasional Bhd and private companies in the power sector such as Malakoff Corporation Bhd, YTL (YTL Power International Bhd) and consortiums.
“The state government will know by the end of the year, when it gathers proposals from parties who have the experience and financial capacity to carry out the project.”
On his official Facebook page on Oct 18, Sultan Ibrahim urged the state government to find solutions to the water shortage. Low water levels at two dams had led to water rationing in three districts.
“A hydroelectric dam’s lifespan could go beyond 150 years. It is unlike coal or gas turbine power plants as the production is consistent and is not affected by the price of coal. A new dam will stabilise water reserves in Sungai Johor while keeping pollution in check, as it prevents agricultural activities upstream of the river,” said Hasni.
He said the dam would provide additional power to the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development in Pengerang and upcoming Bus Rapid Transit system in Iskandar Malaysia. Hasni said the proposal was subject to consideration by the Federal Government and discussions with Singapore as the Linggiu dam, owned by Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, was dependent on water from the river.
Amelia Teng Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Nov 15;
SINGAPORE - The Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres) made a police report on Monday about a possible case of animal abuse.
It found a dead python along a walkway leading to an upper parking deck at the Bukit Timah Plaza last Wednesday evening, with its head and body crushed, and a cigarette butt in its mouth.
This follows a spate of cat deaths in Yishun in the last two months, with the most recent occuring last Friday morning.
Ms Anbarasi Boopal, director of Acres' Wildlife Rescue Centre, told The Straits Times that the society is trying to get more information on the incident.
The mall's security guards had alerted Acres to the snake, and a team from the society had arrived within 10 minutes, she said.
"We have come across other incidents where snakes are killed because people fear them. They don't know that snakes can be left alone," she added.
"But this incident looks different," she added. "It looks like the snake was hurt and stepped on, as there's trauma to the head.
"Its skin at the rear portion was stuck to the floor and there was a cigarette placed in its mouth."
"It couldn't have been run over by a vehicle because it was at a walkway and not on the driveway," she added.
The snake, which was up to a metre long, was a reticulated python, a species that is commonly found in Singapore. Its carcass is currently with Acres.
Those found guilty of any unauthorised killing of an animal under the Wild Animals and Birds Act face a maximum fine of $1,000 per animal.
Under the Animals and Birds Act, anyone who neglects to supply the animals with food and/or water or subjects them to unnecessary suffering and distress is guilty of animal cruelty.First offenders may be fined up to S$15,000 and/or be jailed for up to 18 months.
Anyone who has information regarding the death of the python can inform the Acres Animal Crime Investigation Unit at acrescrime@gmail.com.
Chew Hui Min, My Paper AsiaOne 3 Nov 15;
THE crimson sunbird may be going through an identity crisis of sorts.
On Sunday, the Nature Society's bird group wrote in a blog post that this bird is now the "official national bird of Singapore". The red-breasted bird has been unofficially touted as Singapore's national bird since 2002, when it topped a poll on the topic organised by the Nature Society.
But just when its status had seemingly been made official - along with that of the common rose butterfly - comes another twist.
Anuj Jain, the chair of the society's butterfly and insect group, indicated to The Straits Times yesterday that the "official" status was not quite, well, official just yet.
ST understands the Nature Society has contacted three government departments to get the bird and the butterfly official standing, but it is still not clear on who will rule on the matter.
The Vanda Miss Joaquim has been Singapore's official national flower since 1981, approved by the then Ministry of Culture.
Nature lovers got excited when, in a blog post titled "Crimson Sunbird is now the official National Bird of Singapore", the Nature Society said the selection had been made official and publicly announced by Shawn Lum, president of the Nature Society, at a dinner held in conjunction with the 6th Asian Bird Fair on Saturday. The same post said the common rose, a butterfly, was also declared the national butterfly.
The 2015 Asian Bird Fair, held here for the first time, was a two-day festival for bird watchers and nature lovers.
But yesterday, the Nature Society backtracked a little. Mr Jain said Dr Lum had shared at a fellowship dinner that the society has "written in" to make the status of the common rose and the crimson sunbird official.
They thought the fair, which was attended by more than 20 nature clubs, would be a good opportunity to make the announcement.
However, it was not an official declaration, Dr Lum clarified yesterday.
"(We hope) the information... will generate public interest in our natural heritage and, in that sense, it is meant for public discourse. The announcement is not, however, a decree and, in fact, reflects the wishes of people who came forward with these selections," he said.
Alan OwYong, vice-chair of the Nature Society's bird group, said they wanted to announce it at the fair to "claim it first" before others from the region did. Besides Singapore, the crimson sunbird is found in most of South-east Asia. It also lives in India and southern China, Mr OwYong said.
Voters in 2002 felt the crimson sunbird was a suitable symbol of Singapore as it is small and active, and because of the male bird's brilliant red plumage.
Yesterday evening, the word "official" was dropped from the title of the Nature Society's blog post.
Is the crimson sunbird Singapore's official national bird?
Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Nov 15;
SINGAPORE - The crimson sunbird may be going through an identity crisis of sorts.
On Nov 1, the Nature Society's bird group wrote in a blog post that this bird is now the "official national bird of Singapore".
The red-breasted bird though, has been unofficially touted as Singapore's national bird since 2002, when it topped a poll on the topic organised by Nature Society.
But just when its status had seemingly been made official - along with that of the Common Rose butterfly - there was another twist.
Mr Anuj Jain, the chair of the society's butterfly and insect group, indicated to The Straits Times on Monday, that the "official" status wasn't quite, well, official just yet.
ST understands that Nature Society has contacted three government departments to get the bird and the butterfly some sort of official standing, but it is still not clear on who will rule on the matter.
In contrast, the Vanda Miss Joaquim has been Singapore's official national flower since 1981, approved by the then-Ministry of Culture.
Nature lovers got excited when, in a blog post titled, "Crimson Sunbird is now the official National Bird of Singapore", Nature Society said the selection had been made official and publicly announced by Dr Shawn Lum, president of the Nature Society, at a dinner held in conjunction with the 6th Asian Bird Fair on Saturday.
The same post said that the Common Rose, a butterfly, was also declared the national butterfly of Singapore. It was chosen by the public in a poll organised by the Nature Society this year.
The 2015 Asian Bird Fair, held in Singapore for the first time, was a two-day festival for bird watchers and nature lovers.
AsiaOne 2 Nov 15;
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has launched Southeast Asia's first advanced maritime energy test facility that aims to be a platform for scientists and engineers to develop innovative, eco-friendly maritime technologies.
With more stringent regulations to be imposed on ship emissions and energy efficiency standards in the coming years, the new Maritime Energy Test Bed will help the maritime industry by producing cleaner and more sustainable maritime energy solutions, according to a media statement from the university.
These include devices that curb harmful ship emissions and alternative energy sources such as biodiesels, a form of renewable, clean-burning diesel. The solutions are aimed at saving costs and gaining competitive advantages. This would enhance the reputation of maritime companies which champion sustainable technologies.
The $8 million facility will also serve as a learning platform for polytechnic students, undergraduates, and PhD candidates to get hands-on experience in the technologies and innovations.
It was officially opened today by Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Mr Tan said: "The fruition of the Maritime Energy Test Bed represents a successful collaboration between the research sector and the industry, and is a timely development as the maritime sector looks to green and sustainable technologies to save on costs, mitigate the effects of climate change and address growing environmental regulations."
Leading NTU's efforts will be the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N) and Maritime Institute at NTU (MI@NTU).
NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President for Research, Professor Lam Khin Yong, said: "The maritime industry is a crucial economic pillar carrying about 90 per cent of the world's trade. This new facility puts NTU at the forefront of global maritime energy research, developing sustainable maritime energy solutions and raising Singapore's maritime R&D capabilities and expertise."
The Maritime Energy Test Bed is jointly funded by NTU and the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI). SMI will contribute $4.7 million over the next 10 years, while NTU will provide $3.4 million, with support from other maritime leaders such as ClassNK.
Shipping has been recognised as the most fuel-efficient mode of freight transportation. However, ships usually use low-quality fuel, especially heavy fuel oil, which give off harmful atmospheric pollutants, including sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, and other particulates.
Moving into a new era of green shipping, the Maritime Energy Test Bed at NTU will conduct research and development in areas such as alternative sources of energy or clean fuels, fuel additives to increase energy efficiency, and technologies for cleaner emissions.
The facility will be equipped with a fully-fledged 1.5 megawatt diesel ship engine, which can run on most of the conventional liquid fuel types for energy research such as biodiesel, gas-to-liquid, and synthetic diesel. It will also install advanced sensors and monitoring devices to facilitate research innovation in energy storage, noise pollution, and waste heat recovery.
The facility will also serve as a training platform for engineers upgrading their skills for the green maritime industry. It is also open to polytechnic students, undergraduates and even PhD candidates.
Prof Lam said, "As Singapore is primarily a global trade hub, education and training are important aspects of the new Maritime Energy Test Bed at NTU. With highly skilled manpower, Singapore will be able to attract overseas investments to the nation's maritime industry."
NTU launches Southeast Asia's first maritime energy test bed
The S$8 million research facility aims to be a platform for scientists and engineers to develop innovative eco-friendly maritime technologies.
Channel NewsAsia 2 Nov 15;
SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Monday (Nov 2) launched Southeast Asia’s first-of-its-kind advanced maritime energy test facility.
The S$8 million research facility aims to be a platform for scientists and engineers to develop innovative eco-friendly maritime technologies, such as scrubbers and alternative energy sources. Scrubbers are devices that curb harmful ship emissions.
Such clean energy solutions are aimed at delivering cost savings and competitive advantages, as well as enhance the reputation of maritime companies for championing sustainable technologies.
For example, shipping may be recognised as the most fuel efficient mode of freight transportation, but it is also known to use fuel which emits harmful atmospheric pollutants. The facility, called the Maritime Energy Test Bed, will conduct research and development in areas such as alternative sources of energy, fuel additives to increase energy efficiency and technologies for cleaner emissions.
To achieve this, the 1,500 square metre facility comes equipped with a 1.5 megawatt diesel ship engine, which can run on most of the conventional liquid fuel types for energy research. It will also be installed with advanced sensors and monitoring devices to facilitate research in energy storage, noise pollution and waste heat recovery.
“The fruition of the Maritime Energy Test Bed represents a successful collaboration between the research sector and the industry, and is a timely development as the maritime sector looks to green and sustainable technologies to save on costs, mitigate the effects of climate change and address growing environmental regulations,” said Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
The facility will also be an educational platform for polytechnic students, undergraduates and PhD candidates to learn and get hands-on experience. Engineers can also train there to learn skills for the green maritime industry.
The Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) will contribute S$4.7 million over the next 10 years to fund the facility, while NTU will provide S$3.4 million with support from other maritime leaders such as ClassNK.
“As Singapore is primarily a global trade hub, education and training are important aspects of the new Maritime Energy Test Bed at NTU,” said NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President for Research, Professor Lam Khin Yong. “With highly skilled manpower, Singapore will be able to attract overseas investments to the nation’s maritime industry.”
- CNA/ek
$8m facility to boost green maritime energy options
Samantha Goh, The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Nov 15;
Research into sustainable maritime technology was given a boost here yesterday with the launch of a new $8 million maritime energy test bed at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
While shipping has been recognised as the most fuel-efficient way to transport freight, ships typically use low-quality fuel, especially heavy fuel oil, which emits pollutants such as sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide.
The new facility, the first of its kind in South-east Asia, will do research and try to develop alternative sources of energy or clean fuels, fuel additives to raise energy efficiency, and technologies for cleaner emissions. This includes advanced filters, called scrubbers, which are used to reduce pollutants from exhaust gas.
The facility will also serve as a training platform for polytechnic students, undergraduates and PhD candidates. Students from Singapore Polytechnic's marine cadet programme, for example, will attend internships at the facility and go on training visits.
The facility is funded by NTU and the Singapore Maritime Institute, and opened with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
MPA chief executive Andrew Tan said the collaboration was timely as the maritime sector needed green and sustainable technologies to save on costs, mitigate the effects of climate change and address stricter environmental regulations.
This maritime energy test bed also adds to the NTU's list of green initiatives, including the building of the region's first hybrid power grid to integrate multiple renewable energy sources.
The 1,500 sq m maritime facility is designed to mimic the operations of a vessel, which Professor Chan Siew Hwa, co-director of the Energy Research Institute @ NTU, says is crucial to ensuring that research ideas born in the laboratory are applicable to real-life situations. It comes equipped with a 1.5MW diesel ship engine which can run on most conventional liquid fuel types for energy research, including biodiesel, liquefied nitrogen gas and synthetic diesel.
The facility will also be installed with advanced sensors to track information on energy storage, noise pollution and waste heat recovery.
Prof Chan noted that current research into clean energy for use in the maritime industry is usually done with an automotive engine, which runs very differently from a ship engine.
"When you put the equipment developed for emission control on a real (ship) engine, it may not work or may perform badly. So we wanted to fill that gap."
Marine sector 'must reinvent to survive'
Jacqueline Woo, The Straits Times AsiaOne 4 Nov 15;
The offshore and marine industry has to reinvent itself in order to ride out the downturn, said Economic Development Board (EDB) chairman Beh Swan Gin yesterday.
He noted that companies were facing difficult times, and added: "The sector is a significant contributor to our economy, providing good jobs for Singaporeans, but the continued transformation of the industry is critical for its long-term success."
He also said the EDB will give its "full support" to investments that help yards make more productive use of its resources and assets.
Dr Beh was speaking at the opening of Sembcorp Marine's (Semb-Marine) steel structure fabrication workshop in Tuas, the largest of its kind in South-east Asia.
He pointed to the facility, which is also the first automated hull shop in the region, as an example of how companies can stay competitive amid the oil price slump.
SembMarine chairman Mohd Hassan Marican said the 1.3 million sq ft workshop, comprising five production bays, operates on a streamlined process that halves the number of man-hours and production time previously required for every tonne of steel fabricated.
It also features a fully automated panel production line with capabilities that can "reduce manpower requirement while delivering high- quality precision and efficiency".
The workshop is part of an ongoing 35ha development at SembMarine's Tuas Boulevard Yard, which will add three more dry docks to its four existing ones when completed in 2017.
"(It) will enable Sembcorp Marine to scale up our overall production capacities and capabilities to better serve our customers," said Mr Mohd Hassan Marican.
SembMarine president and chief executive Wong Weng Sun added in a statement that the project is part of the company's efforts to turn the yard into "a high-tech production hub that underpins Semb-corp Marine's ability to compete on value and scale".
"This new facility will integrate with all other capabilities in our flagship Tuas Boulevard Yard and allow us to more effectively offer customers a one-stop shop for offshore and marine engineering solutions," he said.
SembMarine announced in July that it was reorganising its businesses into a single brand and company.
It now focuses on four key areas: rigs and floaters, repairs and upgrades, offshore platforms and specialised shipbuilding.
The rig-builder has been faced with headwinds amid a global oil glut and slowing demand, posting a 75.7 per cent drop in net profit for the three months to Sept 30.
While the firm has previously acknowledged that the immediate operating environment in the offshore rig-building industry remains "very challenging", it has also said that its investments in new capabilities and facilities will help ensure sustainable returns.
REBECCA RAJAENDRAM The Star 2 Nov 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations will go on as planned even if the haze or floods return as the Education Ministry has plans in place to cope with the situations.
Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan said (pic) it is “important” that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations go on.
“We (Education Ministry) are working closely with all the involved agencies such as the police, army, Rela, the Fire and Rescue Department, and others,” he told reporters after his visit to SMK Aminuddin Baki on Monday, the first day of the SPM examinations.
“This is not the first time, we have always worked with them,” he said.
Kamalanathan said he was happy that only two or three locations nationwide had recorded moderate Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on Monday.
He added that in case API readings reach unhealthy levels, the Ministry would provide masks to examination candidates and invigilators.
“We are not talking about postponing the exams at all unless it (API readings) reaches 500, in which case it is considered an emergency,” he added.
In case of flooding, Kamalanathan said the Ministry has prepared “Ops Payung”, specifically for the flood-prone states.
“For example, in case of flooding in the lower floors, we will move the examination (rooms) to the higher floors,” he said.
About 440,000 SPM candidates and 45,000 SPTM candidates across Malaysia began the examinations on Monday.
Malaysia to use two measurements for API readings in 2017
New Straits Times 3 Nov 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will use two tools which can measure the particles at 2.5 micron or PM2.5 and read fine particle levels of less than 10 microns (PM10) for the Air Pollutant Index (API), in 2017.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said: “The use of the two tools are more effective and accurate to get API readings that are more comprehensive.”
He was speaking to reporters after attending a cheque-presentation ceremony from sponsors for the Prime Minister Hibiscus Award 2014/2015, here, today.
Also present was the chairman of the Prime Minister Hibiscus Award 2014/2015 organising committee, Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur.
Wan Junaidi said besides the two tools for API reading, the ministry was also proposing the use of a measuring tool for river and sea water pollution in the future.
Wan Junaidi said the ministry assured that the API reading method currently used by Malaysia met international standards.
Meanwhile, Mustafa said the Prime Minister Hibiscus Award for the 2014/2015 session had received sponsorships worth RM161,000 from 10 private organisations and seven state governments.
He said 54 companies of various businesses were competing for the award this time, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous session.
In the Environmental Journalism category, 18 entries had been submitted compared to seven previously, he said. -- Bernama
Apriadi Gunawan and Hotli Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post 2 Nov 15;
Potential conflicts between animals and human beings have continued to emerge in some regions on Sumatra, mostly because of severe disturbances to the animals’ original habitats.
In Besitang district, Langkat regency, North Sumatra, hundreds of families have been expressing anxiety after wild orangutans from the neighboring Mount Leuser National Park (TNGL) have repeatedly invaded their neighborhoods in search of food.
Hasan Basri, 50, of village IX, Halaban subdistrict, said several families were forced to flee their homes and stay at relatives’ houses because they feared being attacked by the wild orangutans. No fatalities have so far been reported from the incident.
“But the people here are worried,” Hasan told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
He said that the presence of orangutans in the human residential complexes was an old story. Yet, in the last three months the occurrences have become more frequent. He blamed the phenomenon on the serious damage done to the forests in the national park by illegal logging activities.
“Orangutans enter our villages for food because their habitats have been damaged by illegal loggers,” Hasan said, adding that the animals damaged many of the people’s rubber plantations and durian trees, eating the plants’ young leaves.
To deal with the problem, he said, enraged people attacked the orangutans with air rifles and with bows and arrows.
A 50-year-old orangutan was recently found with 22 gunshot wounds all over its body. Volunteers attempted to save its life, but it later died.
Orangutan Information Center (OIC) director Panut Hadisiswoyo said that since 2013 the center had found seven Sumatran orangutans from North Sumatra and Aceh in critical conditions because of gunshot and stab wounds. They all eventually died as the wounds were too serious to heal.
He said for the last three years the center also saved 79 orangutans isolated in people’s fields and plantation areas. Of them, 69 percent were from Aceh and the remaining 31 percent were from North Sumatra, especially Langkat.
“To put an end to the conflict between orangutans and people, we urge all parties to stop deforestation in the Leuser ecosystem,” Panut said.
Meanwhile in Sejahtera hamlet, Rimba Raya subdistrict, Pintu Rime Gayo district, Bener Meriah regency, Aceh, people continue to stay in evacuation centers to avoid being attacked by herds of elephants.
“We are still traumatized. We are afraid to go back to our village,” Abdullah, one of the displaced residents, said on Sunday.
He said a herd of about 30 elephants had come to his village a few months before, killing a housewife and injuring her husband as they tried to escape. Their baby survived because the big animals did not hurt him.
“We just don’t want to have such an incident reoccur. That’s why we left our home,” Abdullah said.
Bener Meriah regency secretary Imarissiska said the regency administration had been overwhelmed by the task of removing herds of elephants from residential areas as they kept coming back.
For a short-term solution, he said, the administration was cooperating with the provincial Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) to get rid of the elephants using trained elephants belonging to the center.
“Hopefully we will start doing this on Monday, herding the animals back to their habitat,” Imarissiska said.
He said once the herd left, the administration would dig deep trenches to separate the villages from the herd and to prevent the elephants from coming back.
For a long-term solution, he said, the administration was planning to relocate the people to a new area. “This needs a huge amount of funds,” said Imarissiska, adding that cooperation with other affected regencies could also be undertaken to help the program.
The population of Sumatran elephants has fallen in the last four years and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has raised the threat status of the species from “emergency” to “critical”, one step below “extinction”.
Based on World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia data, Indonesia currently has about 2,000 individual wild elephants.
David Stanway PlanetArk 30 Oct 15;
China could face another bout of severe air pollution this winter with unfavorable weather expected to aggravate the problem, the environment ministry said on Thursday.
Smog has emerged as a major problem for the government, which has relied on coal and highly polluting heavy industries to fuel its economic growth, especially in northern regions.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection said the El Nino phenomenon meant that wind and rain were likely to be unusually low, and so emissions produced by coal-fired urban heating systems would not be easily dispersed.
At an emergency meeting to discuss measures aimed at limiting pollution this cold season, the ministry urged heating providers to use high-quality coal and to make sure that mandatory boiler renovations have been done before winter heating begins.
The ministry will step up inspections of construction sites and try to reduce the use of fireworks, and has also made provisions to allow big polluting industries like steel and cement to work different shifts in order to reduce smog build-ups, it said on its website (www.mep.gov.cn).
The ministry said heating demand meant that concentrations of small and breathable airborne particles known as PM2.5 reached an average of 111 micrograms per cubic meter last winter in the smog-prone region of Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, higher than the yearly average of 88.
China launched a "war on pollution" in 2014 and promised to shut polluting industries and cut the use of coal in industrial regions around Beijing, Shanghai and the Pearl river delta near Hong Kong.
(Editing by Robert Birsel)
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