The Singapore Strait (or Straits of Singapore; simplified Chinese: 新加坡海峡; traditional Chinese: 星加坡海峽; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Hǎixiá Malay: Selat Singapura) is a 105-kilometer long, 16-kilometer wide strait between the Strait of Malacca in the west and the South China Sea in the east. Singapore is on the north of the channel and the Riau Islands are on the south. The Indonesia-Singapore border lies along the length of the straits.
It includes Keppel Harbour and many small islands. The strait provides the deepwater passage to the Port of Singapore, which makes it very busy.
The depth of the Singapore Strait defines the maximum draft of vessels going through the Straits of Malacca, and the Malaccamax ship class.
Contents |
The 9th century AD Muslim author Ya'qubi referred to Singapore Straits as the Sea of Salahit, one of the Seven Seas to be transversed to reach China.[1]
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Singapore Strait as follows:[2]
On the West. The Eastern limit of Malacca Strait [A line joining Tanjong Piai (Bulus), the Southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula () and The Brothers () and thence to Klein Karimoen ()].
On the East. A line joining Tanjong Datok, the Southeast point of Johore () through Horsburgh Reef to Pulo Koko, the Northeastern extreme of Bintan Island ().
On the North. The Southern shore of Singapore Island, Johore Shoal and the Southeastern coast of the Malay Peninsula.
On the South. A line joining Klein Karimoen to Pulo Pemping Besar () thence along the Northern coasts of Batam and Bintan Islands to Pulo Koko.
|
||||||||||||||