logo
Container barge seen grounded near Tanjong Beach in Sentosa

Container barge seen grounded near Tanjong Beach in Sentosa

Straits Timesa day ago

The ship was grounded near Tanjong Beach, said eco-tour agency Kayakasia at about 7.30am. PHOTO: ST READER
The cargo ship was seen near the waters off Sentosa on the morning of June 6. PHOTO: ST READER
Container barge seen grounded near Tanjong Beach in Sentosa
SINGAPORE - A container barge was seen near the waters off Sentosa on the morning of June 6.
It was grounded near Tanjong Beach, said eco-tour agency Kayakasia at about 7.30am.
In a Facebook post, Kayakasia said that the barge was blocking the lagoon, and had destroyed floating sea barriers.
The Straits Times has contacted the police, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Sentosa for more information.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Escaped dog in UK fished out of waters after 36 days of adventure
Escaped dog in UK fished out of waters after 36 days of adventure

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Straits Times

Escaped dog in UK fished out of waters after 36 days of adventure

Escaped dog in UK fished out of waters after 36 days of adventure A missing dog in southeast England was found more than a month after escaping her fosterer's home, evading searchers to cover about 160km and even swimming to an island in the southwest . The dog, a five-year-old Retriever cross named Amber, went missing on April 25 in Bramshaw, a small village in Hampshire, according to a Facebook post by local rescue service KS Angels Rescue. The Guardian reported that Amber was rescued as a street dog in Qatar and moved to Britain. However, she went missing after only one night with her foster family in Bramshaw. After she went missing, searchers put up a Facebook page dedicated to updates, where users offered tip-offs about possible sightings and its whereabouts. An April 29 post on the page described Amber as 'extremely nervous and terrified of humans'. It also urged people not to call out or try to approach as she may run away. However, despite several sightings, rescuers were unable to find her. A breakthrough came on May 27 , when National Trust Brownsea Island posted an alert on Facebook, saying it had found a tan, medium-sized dog swimming to the island in Dorset. A resident on the island put out food every night after spotting the dog, non-profit organisation Lost Dog Recovery UK South said in a Facebook post detailing Amber's journey. Amber was reportedly sighted by the crew of a passing vessel while attempting to swim back to the mainland, and was first mistaken for a seal. Lost Dog Recovery UK South said the crew fished her out of the waters and wrapped her in a blanket, intending to get her to a veterinarian for a microchip check. On June 1, KS Angels Rescue posted an update, saying Amber has been found. 'Massive thank you to the very kind men on the boat for getting her safely on board and looking after her so well!' it wrote. Four days later, it said in another update that Amber has 'settled in nicely' after being returned to her fosterer. 'She's been very, very tired after her adventures and slept a lot but the vet has given her a clean bill of health apart from the need to gain a few (kilogrammes) which is to be expected,' it wrote. 'She's starting to bond with the foster family and seeking out love and cuddles. She is not allowed in the garden without a lead for obvious reasons!' It also said that Amber is 'eating four meals a day and getting spoiled rotten' while continuing to recover from her ordeal. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Container barge seen grounded near Tanjong Beach in Sentosa
Container barge seen grounded near Tanjong Beach in Sentosa

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Straits Times

Container barge seen grounded near Tanjong Beach in Sentosa

The ship was grounded near Tanjong Beach, said eco-tour agency Kayakasia at about 7.30am. PHOTO: ST READER The cargo ship was seen near the waters off Sentosa on the morning of June 6. PHOTO: ST READER Container barge seen grounded near Tanjong Beach in Sentosa SINGAPORE - A container barge was seen near the waters off Sentosa on the morning of June 6. It was grounded near Tanjong Beach, said eco-tour agency Kayakasia at about 7.30am. In a Facebook post, Kayakasia said that the barge was blocking the lagoon, and had destroyed floating sea barriers. The Straits Times has contacted the police, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Sentosa for more information. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

Plant Parenting: Digging deeper into growing media
Plant Parenting: Digging deeper into growing media

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Straits Times

Plant Parenting: Digging deeper into growing media

Clay-like soil (top left) can be improved by adding amendments such as good-quality compost (top right). Gritty inorganic materials such as lightweight expanded clay aggregate (Leca, centre) pellets, which are available online and at local nurseries, can be added to further open up the mix. PHOTO: WILSON WONG SINGAPORE – Readers who have been following The Straits Times' Root Awakening column may have noticed that I use the words 'growing medium' to describe the material in which plants are grown. Gardeners are familiar with soil, which is a traditional growing medium found in the ground outdoors. Those who grow plants in high-rise gardens use various potting media, which may or may not contain soil. Media that do not are called soil-less growing media. A growing medium provides physical support for roots to anchor themselves, so the plant can stand upright and grow. It should be loose enough to permit root development and growth. The growing medium also plays an important role in ensuring the roots get sufficient air, water and nutrients. The type of growing medium used will vary depending on the plant species, its growth requirements and prevailing growing conditions, as well as the gardener's care regimen and budget. It is important to understand your growing medium's characteristics to ensure you select the most suitable one for your plant. What is a growing medium? A growing medium consists of inorganic and organic components. The proportion of these two components and how they combine determine the medium's characteristics. In soil that is found naturally outdoors, the inorganic component consists of a mixture of particles of varying sizes , from large sand grains to minute clay. Sandy soils have a large proportion of sand, making them porous, and water will easily drain away. Clay-based soils, which are common here, are known for their density and high water retention. The clay particles are very small and closely packed together. Clay-based soils retain nutrients and moisture well, but drain poorly. PHOTO: WILSON WONG The organic portion of soil consists of partially to wholly decomposed material from once living organisms. Organic matter keeps clay aggregates apart, ensuring drainage and aeration. It serves as a food source for beneficial organisms that help plants with nutrient intake, nutrient cycling and fighting disease-causing pathogens. A common organic material that is incorporated into soil to improve its properties is compost, which is derived mostly from decomposed plant material. Use good-quality compost that is mature and stable so it does not continue to break down, which will rob nutrients from the soil and plants. Drainage and aeration are key to good growing media One of the most important physical properties of a good growing medium is its porosity. The size of spaces within the growing medium matters. They should be small enough to be able to hold air and water, but not too small that they will impede the movement of air and water. Although the roots of plants are buried in the ground, they are living organs and require oxygen to stay alive. Numerous small air pockets in a growing medium provide oxygen for plant roots. Similar pockets in the growing medium retain and store water for the plant. The roots of terrestrial plants should not be left to sit in water for long periods. Roots can become waterlogged, suffocate and die. By incorporating compost and gritty materials into chunky clay-based soil (top left and centre), the resulting mix (top right) becomes crumbly and more conducive for roots to grow. PHOTO: WILSON WONG Conversely, soil should not be too porous, as this can lead to enhanced drainage and aeration. It will drain too efficiently and dry out quickly during hot weather, and will consequently have to be watered more. Plants absorb nutrients that are dissolved in water. A very porous growing medium will lead to a situation where nutrients are washed away whenever a plant is watered or there is a heavy downpour. Acidity, alkalinity and nutrient retention pH is a chemical property that determines how acidic or alkaline the growing medium is, and affects nutrient availability. Most plant nutrients are available for absorption within the 5.5 to 6.5 range. Aim for a similar pH range for your growing medium so that essential nutrients are available for your plants. You will need to use a soil pH metre to measure your growing medium. Whether you are improving the properties of your existing growing medium or making a new one, check the pH characteristics of the components you intend to use, as it can affect the final pH value of the resultant growing medium. pH cannot be quickly or easily corrected if it falls out of the optimal range. Use a soil pH metre to measure the pH value of the growing mix. Aim for a figure between 5.5 and 6.5. PHOTO: WILSON WONG A growing medium should retain nutrients well, so that plants do not need to be fed as often and less fertiliser is lost to leaching. Clay in soils that have small pores limit nutrient loss by leaching. Particles of clay, due to their minute size, also have a large surface area. Coupled with a negatively charged surface, they can hold on to a range of dissolved nutrients which exist as positively charged ions. Organic matter has a similar feature. When incorporated into clay soils, it will not only help to enhance drainage and aeration, but also improve the clay-based medium's ability to retain nutrients and moisture. Plant Parenting is a new series about houseplant care and other gardening essentials. Have a gardening topic you are interested in? Write in to stlife@ We reserve the right to edit and reject questions. Dr Wilson Wong is an NParks-certified practising horticulturist and parks manager. He is the founder of Green Culture Singapore and an adjunct assistant professor (Food Science & Technology) at the National University of Singapore. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store