In 2013 Aruba Ports Authority N.V. announced that they were ready to begin Aruba’s US $62 million dollar project to Design, Build, Finance, Maintain, Operate, and Transfer the Multi-Cargo Sea Terminal at Barcadera.
The contract was awarded to the local stevedoring company Aruba Stevedoring Company (ASTEC) NV. The project will be implemented as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the Landlord Model. The concessionaire will be responsible for the investments in terminal infrastructure, labor, and operational activities.
The port’s vision is to realize a project with guaranteed sustainability. This project is thus of vital importance for diversification of Aruba’s economy and its future growth.
The port of Oranjestad is currently the main commercial harbor of Aruba, is situated on the south-western end of the island. The port is open for day and night navigation, allowing vessels to enter and leave at any hour. It is located along the waters edge of the capital, Oranjestad, which makes a colorful sight upon entering of the harbor. The ships moor within walking distance from the shopping centers, a 10 minute drive from the beaches, and a little over 2 miles from the international airport. The port of Oranjestad also serves all containerized cargo handling operations until its scheduled move to Barcadera in mid 2015. This adjacent cargo facility is equiped with a 50 ton gantry crane with a loading rate of 20-30 moves per hour and 250 meters of quay length. This facility is used primarily for processing the imports for local consumption and the remaining represents Free-Zone type and transshipment cargo.
The harbor has a depth of 33 feet at MLW. The safe salt water draft approved for entering and leaving is 30 feet 00 inches. Vessels normally enter via the Western Channel and depart via the Eastern Channel. In total, there are 4070 feet of dock length available to accommodate ocean going vessels. The Port of Oranjestad has five cruise berths: Two berths with two Cruise Terminals measure 1910 feet in length and the other two berths sharing one Cruise Terminal are 1443 feet in length. One additional Cruise berth has 557 feet of length. Water depth ranges from 32 to 36 feet. On weekends the container berth is used as a third mega cruise berth.
The Cargo Terminal has a total area of 1.4 million sq. feet; 7500+ TEU’s storage capacity and 36 Reefer points.
The Port has one Ship-shore container gantry crane: Nelcon 50t, that can move 20-25 boxes per hour. CFS in Port total area over 53,800 sq. feet.
The Port of San Nicolas is Aruba’s second biggest city. A favorite spot for scuba divers, the city’s economic history is closely linked to the development of the oil refinery. Located on the southeastern shores of the island, this deepwater port serves the oil refinery and has facilities for handling cargo and bunkering fuel. In 2000, almost 16 thousand people called the Port of San Nicolas home.
For many years, scuba divers have called Charlie’s Bar a home away from home. This famous bar has become a kind of museum since it began in the 1940s, as scuba divers have been hanging their underwater treasures on its walls.
The Valero Marine Terminal, serving the refinery near the Port of San Nicolas, is the only operator of the port. Channels are dredged, and incoming vessels should check with the pilot to verify current depths before entering.
The Aruba Refinery processes lower-cost heavy sour crude oil and produces distilate products and intermediate feedstocks. Two deepwater berths for ULCCs and four berths for products tankers. Two additional berths for dry bulk cargoes.