Pulau Bukom
Encyclopedia
Pulau Bukom, also known as Pulau Bukum, is a small island located about five kilometres to the south of the main island of Singapore
, off the Straits of Singapore. The size of Pulau Bukom is about 1.45 km².
Pulau Bukom is also known as Pulau Bukom Besar, which has a small companion islet to its south called Pulau Bukom Kechil. The island's name is thought to come from the Malay
name for a seashell
called rangkek bukom, which is wide at one end and taper
s to a narrow point, the shape of the island prior to land reclamation
.
Bukum is said to be the same as hukum, and there is a tradition
that the Raja
used to try cases on the island, hence the name, probably through the intermediate form berhukum.
Pulau Bukom appears in Franklin and Jackson
's 1828 map as Po. Bukum. The island, originally a mangrove swamp, was also a source of fresh water
for ship
s. In 1884, a trader
named Gagino established a water company on the island to supply water to passing ships.
The island is currently the site of the Shell
's oil refinery
and plants for manufacture of chemicals. Shell's association with the island dates back to 1891, when the company used the island to store kerosene
. Shell is currently extending its facilities on the island.
The island can be reached by Ferry from the Pasir Panjang Ferry terminal. The access to the island is restricted. Visitors need to have a security pass which will only be issued for personnel working on the island. The security checks are very tight and no unauthorized person is allowed to enter the island. The ferry service is operated by Tian San Shipping. The ferry is free of charge.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, off the Straits of Singapore. The size of Pulau Bukom is about 1.45 km².
Pulau Bukom is also known as Pulau Bukom Besar, which has a small companion islet to its south called Pulau Bukom Kechil. The island's name is thought to come from the Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
name for a seashell
Seashell
A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer created by an animal that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers...
called rangkek bukom, which is wide at one end and taper
Taper
In cymbal making, taper refers to the gradual change in thickness from the bell to the rim of the cymbal. It is one of the key features that determines the tone of the cymbal....
s to a narrow point, the shape of the island prior to land reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
.
Bukum is said to be the same as hukum, and there is a tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
that the Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
used to try cases on the island, hence the name, probably through the intermediate form berhukum.
Pulau Bukom appears in Franklin and Jackson
Philip Jackson (surveyor)
Philip Jackson was a British Royal Navy lieutenant, who laid out the city plan for Singapore in 1822. He was a key person in Raffles plans for the settlement. The Elgin Bridge in Singapore was once named in his honour.-References:...
's 1828 map as Po. Bukum. The island, originally a mangrove swamp, was also a source of fresh water
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
for ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s. In 1884, a trader
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
named Gagino established a water company on the island to supply water to passing ships.
The island is currently the site of the Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
's oil refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
and plants for manufacture of chemicals. Shell's association with the island dates back to 1891, when the company used the island to store kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
. Shell is currently extending its facilities on the island.
The island can be reached by Ferry from the Pasir Panjang Ferry terminal. The access to the island is restricted. Visitors need to have a security pass which will only be issued for personnel working on the island. The security checks are very tight and no unauthorized person is allowed to enter the island. The ferry service is operated by Tian San Shipping. The ferry is free of charge.
External links
- Satellite image of Pulau Bukum - Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...