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| Geographically, Curaçao
is situated in the heart of the Caribbean basin, at
the crossroads of major shipping routes. The accessibility
of a business location is the most important factor
of establishment and Curaçao has a lot to offer
in that respect through its well-developed infrastructure.
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Because of its historically good connections
with Europe, the U.S.A., Latin America and the Caribbean
islands, the ports of Curaçao have more than
1,300 sailings per year, more than 20 regularly calling
shipping lines, and an efficient and reliable shipping
agent network. Curaçao's harbors are among the
region's most developed and best-organized ports. The
ports of Curaçao are all natural, sheltered ports
that offer safe, fast, efficient and reliable handling
of both ships and cargo. The ports of Curaçao
are well equipped for all business activities. Curaçao
is practically located outside the hurricane belt and
has the perfect gateway to the Caribbean. |
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The Port of Willemstad's strategic geographical
location with respect to the United States, South America
and Europe is one of the major factors that have contributed
in making Curaçao such an important regional transshipment
hub for container shipping. |
Curaçao has always
played an important role in international commerce due
to its strategic location, stable political conditions
and its deep and wide naturally sheltered main harbor.
Throughout the centuries the main seaport of Curaçao,
the Port of Willemstad, which comprises i.a. the St.
Anna Bay and the Schottegat Bay, evolved from a few
simple quays to a multi-faceted maritime service center,
housing several transnational companies. These include
one of the largest crude oil refinery and oil transshipment
centers in the region, operated by Petróleos
de Venezuela S.A. (PVDSA), state-of-the-art Curaçao
Container Terminal offering an extensive array of cargo
facilities, a dynamic Free Trade Zone, region's largest
dry dock, and modern cruise ship terminals. |
Cruise ship facilities
The Port of Willemstad currently
has five wharves available for cruise vessels. All cruise
wharves are secured and offer water and fuel bunkering
facilities. Fuel bunker capacity is 250 tons/hour. Passenger
facilities include toilets, telephones, small shops
& handicrafts, information, bus and taxi terminals.
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The cruise facility outside
the St. Anna Bay, on the western shore at Rif, Otrobanda,
some 200 meters from the harbor entrance, consists of
a T-shaped jetty with a capacity of one cruise vessel.
This facility can handle cruise ships up to 145,000
gross tons safely and without restrictions and overcomes
the limitations of the St. Anna Bay. Bunkers are available
with a capacity of 350 tons/hour.
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The Mega cruise terminal is equipped with
all facilities to embark and disembark passengers. Passenger
facilities include on-site security, information officers,
taxi and bus terminals, a covered area for luggage handling,
rest rooms, a snack bar, an information booth and telecommunication
services. Safety and convenience are the primary objectives
of these facilities.
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Bunkering
All marine fuels to vessels calling at the ports of Curaçao
are supplied around-the-clock, without overtime charges, using
state-of-the art machinery and equipment. All available fuels
meet international standards and delivery is effected under
independent inspection.
Deep-water Facilities
Very large vessels that are not able to enter the Port of
Willemstad can make use of three other commercial ports of
Curaçao: Caracas Bay, St. Michiel Bay, and Bullenbay,
which can all accommodate vessels of any type and scale. The
Curaçao Oil Terminal located at Bullenbay, with a transshipment
capacity of 1,200,000 barrels per day can accommodate U.L.C.C.'s
of up to 530,000 DWT on full draft. The terminal has six T-head
jetties at its disposal and has a total tankage capacity of
1,775,000 barrels.
Ship repairs
The Port of Willemstad boasts Western hemisphere's largest
and best-equipped commercial dry-dock in the Caribbean. It
has a reputation for competent service and long experience
in ship repairs, conversions and dry-dockings. The dry-dock
offers, among others, hull, machinery, piping, electric, and
electronic repairs to all types of vessels including offshore
equipment, dredges, naval vessels and passenger ships.
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