Louisa Reef

Brunei-controlled disputed reef in the South China Sea

6°20′7″N 113°16′47″E / 6.33528°N 113.27972°E / 6.33528; 113.27972ArchipelagoSpratly IslandsAdministration

Brunei

Claimed by

Brunei

EEZBrunei zone

China

CitySansha, Hainan

Taiwan

MunicipalityCijin, Kaohsiung

Vietnam

DistrictTrường Sa, Khánh Hòa

Louisa Reef (Brunei Malay: Terumbu Semarang Barat Kecil; Mandarin Chinese: 南通礁; pinyin: Nántōng Jiāo) is a coral reef in the southern reaches of the Spratly Islands. The reef is oval in shape, approximately 1.5 km (1 mile) east to west and 0.5 km (500 yards) north to south. While most of Louisa Reef is submerged, some portions emerge at low tide and a few small rocks remain above water even at high tide. The reef rises as deeply undercut walls and steep slopes from very deep water with extensive stony and soft corals. A navigation beacon built by Malaysia is at its southwest point and the highest visible rock is at the southeast end.

Safe anchorage is difficult to find, depending on the wind and currents, but there are sandy areas at the northwest and southwest ends. The nearest reliable shelter for boats is the lagoon at Swallow Reef, 128 km (80 miles) to the northeast.

As of 2014^[update], the shoal was claimed by Brunei, China, and Taiwan. Malaysia previously claimed Louisa Reef and operated a small obelisk-like concrete navigational light beacon there. However, Malaysia has apparently dropped its claim in deference to the claim of neighbouring Brunei that the reef lies on its continental shelf.^[1]

References

^ J. Ashley Roach (2014). "Malaysia and Brunei: An Analysis of their Claims in the South China Sea" (PDF). Seas Research. Center for Naval Analyses.

External links

Map showing Louisa Reef within Brunei claim

Spratly Islands

Confrontations

Regions

Occupied features

Brunei	Louisa Reef
China	Cuarteron Reef Fiery Cross Reef Gaven Reefs Hughes Reef Johnson South Reef Mischief Reef Subi Reef
Malaysia	Ardasier Reef Dallas Reef Erica Reef Investigator Shoal Mariveles Reef Swallow Reef
Philippines	Commodore Reef Flat Island Irving Reef Lankiam Cay Loaita Cay Loaita Island Nanshan Island Northeast Cay Second Thomas Shoal Thitu Island West York Island
Taiwan	Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef
Vietnam	Alison Reef Amboyna Cay Barque Canada Reef Bombay Castle Central London Reef Collins Reef Cornwallis South Reef Discovery Great Reef East London Reef Grierson Reef Ladd Reef Lansdowne Reef Namyit Island Pearson Reef Petley Reef Sand Cay Sin Cowe Island South Reef Southwest Cay Spratly Island Tennent Reef West London Reef

Unoccupied features

South China Sea

Pratas Island

Pratas Island
North Vereker Bank
South Vereker Bank

Paracel Islands

Amphitrite Group	Rocky Island Tree Island West Sand Woody Island Qilian Yu
Crescent Group	Money Island Robert Island Yagong Island
Other features	Bombay Reef Triton Island

Northeastern SCS

Spratly Islands

Dangerous
Ground

NW	North Danger Reef Northeast Cay Southwest Cay Thitu Reefs Thitu Island Subi Reef Loaita Bank Lankiam Cay Loaita Cay Loaita Island Tizard Bank Gaven Reefs Namyit Island Sand Cay Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef NNW Irving Reef West York Island WNW Western Reef
NE	Flat Island Nanshan Island Reed Tablemount Third Thomas Shoal
SE	Commodore Reef First Thomas Shoal Mischief Reef Sabina Shoal Second Thomas Shoal
SW	Union Banks Collins Reef Hughes Reef Johnson South Reef Sin Cowe Island Ardasier Reef Cornwallis South Reef Dallas Reef Erica Reef Investigator Shoal Mariveles Reef