St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SMHG) Port Management disclosed on Tuesday that preparations are well underway to prepare for the arrival of the Causeway Swing Bridge tentative set to arrive on May 1 and clear the draw bridge on May 2 or 3.
This is an important milestone just about to be reached with the arrival of the swing bridge.
The exact date and time of arrival will be announced to the public. Weather conditions with respect to high seas in the North Atlantic Ocean could cause the cargo transport vessel Marietje Andrea en-route to St. Maarten to deviate from the projected course. The Andrea will be the longest vessel to ever enter the Simpson Bay Lagoon.
Everything will be in place for a smooth transition of the vessel through the lagoon and provisions are also in place for emergency services.
The 126 meter long (413 feet) vessel is 15 meters wide (49 feet) and has a gross tonnage of 5418. The longest vessel to ever enter the Simpson Bay Lagoon is the 96 meter (316 feet) mega yacht Limitless. The Andrea is almost 100 feet longer than the Limitless.
The Causeway Swing Bridge left Hollandia Shipyard in the Netherlands last Friday for Sint Maarten, and is scheduled to arrive early May.
The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation, is a subsidiary of SMHG, and has an advisory role with respect to Simpson Bay and the Simpson Bay Lagoon.