SINGAPORE — A crocodile sighting in a construction site next to the National Sailing Centre (NSC) on Monday (Nov 6) has resulted in the Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) suspending all water activities in the area.

According to a spokesperson from the SSF, contractors working at the site had spotted the crocodile on Monday afternoon.

“We’ve stepped up measures to ensure the safety of the sailors…We are in close communication with experts and authorities such as National Parks Board, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and other relevant government bodies and are adhering to guidelines published by them,” said the spokesperson.

“We have suspended all on-water activities till further notice and will continue to monitor the situation closely. This is a precautionary measure as safety of our sailors is the number one priority.”

Some 120 sailors were affected by the suspension of activities on Monday, and a regatta scheduled for next weekend, the NSC Cup Series 3, could also be postponed. The SSF said that it is exploring “alternative and temporary” activity and training areas for its sailors during this period.

Responding to queries from TODAY, Chia Seng Jiang, Group Director, National Parks Board (NParks), said in a statement: “The National Parks Board was alerted on 6 and 7 November 2017 to sightings of a crocodile in the waters near the National Sailing Centre. It was likely an Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Estuarine Crocodiles are known to swim freely in the waters between Singapore and Malaysia.

“For the safety of park users, we are working with the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to monitor the sightings, catch and translocate the crocodile. We have also advised the operators of establishments along the coast to take the necessary precautions.”

Advisory notices have also been placed on the shore to warn the public of the danger, and visitors are advised to stay on designated paths and away from the water edges.

While this is the first time that a crocodile has been spotted in the area, there have been recent sightings in other parts of Singapore. In August, nature photographers and visitors to the Pasir Ris Park alerted the NParks after spotting reptiles on two separate occasions.