Beachfront shops at Sentosa, East Coast Park face thinner crowds after oil spill forces beach closures

Source: The Straits Times
Author: Carmen Sin

SINGAPORE - Beachfront businesses have taken a hit after thick sheets of black oil washed up on multiple coasts around the island, following an oil spill at Pasir Panjang Terminal on June 14.

Some are faring worse than others, even as the massive clean-up operation advances.

Water sports joints have suspended all sea activities indefinitely as large swathes of the soiled East Coast Park (ECP) coastline have been cordoned off and swimming banned at Sentosa's Tanjong, Siloso and Palawan beaches, they told The Straits Times.

"The crowd at the beach today is less than half the usual (size)," said Mr Max Ong, assistant general manager of Aloha Sea Sports Centre.

The ECP institution rents water sports equipment, runs classes, and operates a cafe, which has been "very quiet" because of the beach closure, with a 50 per cent plunge in walk-ins, said Mr Ong.

A steep drop in takings is expected for as long as the oil slick remains, he added, though the "damaged beach" is the sadder sight.

Water sports company Ninja Kayakers Foilers also scrapped an eFoil - a kind of motorised surfboard - class at ECP on June 16.

The outing has been postponed indefinitely, said founder Clarence Chua.

"Nothing on this scale has happened since we started up in 2019," he said. "It's troublesome."

The company is eyeing about $2,000 in losses if the situation drags on and postponed classes have to be cancelled, he added, though activities should continue in the clean northern waters.

However, restaurants at Marine Cove, ECP are already recovering as the stench from the crude oil begins to lift.

A restaurant supervisor who asked to remain anonymous said business had picked up after Saturday's blow, which took $5,000 off the eatery's typical daily revenue.

"The crowd is better today. Reservations are better, too," he said.

At Sentosa's beach clubs, cancellations have been streaming in, with some patrons repelled by the "petrol station-like" odour.

But Rumours Beach Club at Siloso - which logged about six same-day cancellations on June 16 - is holding up well, said club manager Gilbert Goh.

"It's Father's day and the eve of a public holiday, so the crowd is still okay. We're a family-friendly establishment and we've got a ballon-sculpting activity for the kids," he said.

The mood is cheery, with customers still going for dips in the swimming pool, added Mr Goh, though the morning crowd was a little sparser than it should have been for a long weekend.