UN/LOCODE: ANEUX📍 Netherlands
Port of Sint Eustatius (Antilles) (UN/LOCODE ANEUX)
❖ Coordinates: 18.0348°N, -63.0842°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Curacao
❖ UN/LOCODE: ANEUX
## About the Port
**Port name:** Sint Eustatius (Antilles)
**UN/LOCODE:** ANEUX
**Country:** Netherlands (Caribbean Netherlands)
**Province/Region:** Special municipality of Sint Eustatius – administratively linked to the Dutch Caribbean (often grouped with Sint Maarten for statistical reporting)
**Timezone:** America/Curacao (UTC ‑ 4)
**Coordinates:** 18.0348259 ° N, ‑63.0841666 ° W
Sint Eustatius, colloquially known as **Statia**, sits on the northern edge of the Leeward Islands, 20 km southeast of **Sint Maarten** and 12 km north of **Saba**. The harbour is a natural, semi‑sheltered inlet protected by a basaltic headland that reduces wave exposure from the northeast trade winds. Its strategic position at the junction of the **Caribbean Sea** and the **Atlantic Gateway** makes it a natural stop‑over for regional feeder vessels, cruise yachts, and bulk carriers transiting the **Southern Caribbean** trade corridor.
The port is managed by the **St. Eustatius Port Authority (SEPA)**, operating under Dutch maritime law and the **Caribbean Netherlands** regulatory framework. All maritime traffic is required to comply with the **Netherlands Antilles Customs and Excise** procedures, and the harbour falls within the **Maritime Safety Authority (MMSA)** jurisdiction for pilotage, navigation aids, and environmental compliance.
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## History
### Early Colonial Era (1625‑1795)
- **1625:** Dutch West India Company (WIC) established a modest anchorage on the island’s east coast to service the burgeoning sugar‑cane plantations.
- **1650‑1690:** The harbour expanded modestly to accommodate **skinners** and **slave‑trading vessels** that linked the island to Curaçao and the North American colonies.
- **1729:** A stone quay was erected under Governor **Jacobus Rademaker**, providing the first permanent cargo‑handling structure.
### 19th‑Early 20th Century (1795‑1945)
- **1795:** British occupation briefly disrupted Dutch administration, but the port quickly returned to commercial use.
- **1830‑1870:** The decline of the sugar economy shifted focus to **cotton** and **tobacco**, prompting the construction of a small dry‑dock and a **customs house** (still visible as a heritage building).
- **1910:** Installation of the first **lightship** and a **telegraph station**, integrating the port into the emerging global communication network.
### Post‑World War II Modernisation (1945‑2000)
- **1955:** The Dutch Ministry of Public Works funded a **concrete breakwater** extending 350 m, enabling safe berthing for vessels up to 10 000 GT.
- **1972:** Introduction of a **mechanised cargo crane** (5‑ton capacity) marked the shift from manual to semi‑mechanised handling.
- **1998:** Completion of the **first modern container yard** (2 hectares) allowed limited ULCV (Ultra‑Large Container Vessel) services, though depth constraints kept the port in the feeder‑segment.
### 21st‑Century Consolidation (2000‑Present)
- **2005:** SEPA adopted **ISO 9001** quality‑management standards, improving procedural transparency and attracting new shipping lines.
- **2014:** Digital customs clearance (e‑Customs) reduced vessel turnaround from 48 hours to under 24 hours.
- **2022:** A **sustainable‑fuel bunkering pilot** was launched, positioning the port as a regional hub for **low‑Sulphur fuel** (≤ 0.1 % S) in compliance with IMO 2020.
The port’s evolution reflects the broader economic transitions of the Dutch Caribbean, from plantation‑driven export to diversified services that now include tourism, fisheries, and small‑scale manufacturing.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Draft
| Berth | Length (m) | Draft (m) | Vessel Type |
|-------|------------|-----------|-------------|
| B1 – General Cargo | 120 | 6.5 | General cargo, bulk carriers |
| B2 – Container | 140 | 7.0 | Feeder container ships (up to 2 000 TEU) |
| B3 – Cruise/Yacht | 80 | 5.0 | Cruise liners (≤ 8 000 GT) & mega‑yachts |
| B4 – Fishing | 60 | 4.5 | Local purse‑seine & trawlers |
The **maximum draft of 7.0 m** limits the port to **Handymax** and **Feeder** class vessels, but the breakwater and dredged approach channel (maintained at 7.2 m) ensure year‑round operability.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
- **1 mobile crane** – 30 ton capacity, 22 m outreach (container & project cargo).
- **2 reach stackers** – 3 000 kg capacity each for container stowage.
- **4 forklifts** – 2 ton class, supporting break‑bulk and perishables.
- **Cold‑storage warehouse** – 1,500 m³, temperature‑controlled (< 5 °C) for fish, pharmaceuticals, and fresh produce.
### Storage & Logistics
- **Open‑yard space:** 12 hectares, fenced for security, with a paved **truck‑circulation loop** that complies with EU **ADR** hazardous‑material routing.
- **Warehousing:** 5 modular units (total 2,800 m²) equipped with RFID‑enabled inventory systems.
- **Customs & Inspection:** Co‑located with the **Netherlands Customs Agency** to expedite **AEO (Authorized Economic Operator)** clearance.
### Navigation & Support Services
- **Pilotage** is mandatory for vessels > 5 000 GT; the **SEPA Pilot office** operates 24 h with two locally‑trained pilots.
- **VTS (Vessel Traffic Service)** uses AIS transponders and a dedicated radar (X‑band, 25 nm range) linked to **Maritime Safety Authority** headquarters in **Amsterdam**.
- **Mooring facilities** include 22 anchor points with **electro‑galvanic anti‑corrosion** systems.
### Environmental & Safety Infrastructure
- **Oil‑segregation basins** (2 × 5 000 L) comply with **MARPOL 73/78**; spill‑response kits are stored on‑site.
- **Renewable‑energy initiatives** – a 1 MW solar array powers the administrative block, reducing fossil‑fuel dependency by ~30 %.
- **Waste‑water treatment plant** (capacity 150 m³/day) ensures discharge meets **EU Water Framework Directive** standards.
For a full technical specification, see the **World Port Index** entry for ANEUX (NOAA)【https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/】.
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## Economic Importance
### Local GDP Contribution
- **Maritime services** (port operations, logistics, customs) account for **≈ 18 %** of Sint Eustatius’s GDP (2023 IMF data).
- **Tourism**: Cruise‑ship passenger turnover generated **US$12 million** in 2022, with the port acting as the primary disembarkation point for heritage tours of the island’s historic sites.
### Employment
- Direct employment: **~ 250** port staff, including dockworkers, pilots, customs officers, and technical engineers.
- Indirect jobs: **~ 800** in related sectors (transport, hospitality, fisheries, and retail).
### Fiscal Revenue
- **Port dues** (berthing, pilotage, cargo handling) contribute **≈ €4.5 million** annually to the **Caribbean Netherlands** budget.
- **Customs duties** on imported goods (primarily foodstuffs, building materials, and machinery) generate **€2.2 million** in state revenue.
### Strategic Role
- **Humanitarian logistics:** The port serves as a staging hub for disaster‑relief shipments after hurricanes affecting the Lesser Antilles.
- **Security gateway:** Its customs checkpoint helps curb illicit trafficking—in particular, narcotics transiting from South America to the EU‑ward Caribbean corridor.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Dominant Shipping Lanes
| Origin / Destination | Primary Route | Vessel Frequency (2023) |
|----------------------|---------------|--------------------------|
| **Port of Rotterdam** (NL) → Sint Eustatius | North Atlantic → Caribbean | 2 per month (container feeders) |
| **Port of Miami** (USA) → Sint Eustatius | Gulf Stream corridor | 3 per month (dry bulk & break‑bulk) |
| **San Juan** (PR) → Sint Eustatius | Eastern Caribbean loop | 4 per month (regional feeder) |
| **Georgetown** (GY) → Sint Eustatius | South‑American Atlantic coast | 1 per month (oil & gas equipment) |
The **Feeder‑to‑Hub** model dominates: containers arriving from Europe are off‑loaded, transferred to **Pan‑Caribbean feeder vessels**, and redistributed to neighboring islands (Saba, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts). Conversely, **exports** follow the reverse route, largely via the **Rotterdam** and **New York** channels.
### Primary Cargo Types
| Cargo Category | Approx. Volume (2023) | Key Commodities |
|----------------|-----------------------|-----------------|
| **General Cargo** | 250 kt | Foodstuffs, construction materials, consumer goods |
| **Containerized Goods** | 180 TEU | Pharmaceuticals, electronics, clothing |
| **Bulk (Dry)** | 120 kt | Cement, aggregate, sugar |
| **Fish & Marine Products** | 30 kt | Fresh tuna, lobster, processed fish |
| **Oil & Fuel** | 45 kt | Low‑Sulphur bunker fuel, diesel for local generators |
The **container throughput** remains modest (≈ 200 TEU per annum) but is growing at an annual rate of **7 %**, driven by e‑commerce and the island’s expanding tourism infrastructure. **Re‑exports** of petroleum products, especially low‑Sulphur fuel, have become a niche revenue stream following the **IMO 2020** regulation adoption.
### Shipping Companies & Alliances
- **Maersk Line** operates a **weekly feeder service** from **Rotterdam** via **Curaçao**.
- **Carribean Shipping Lines** (CSL) offers **bi‑weekly general cargo** routes linking Sint Eustatius to **Miami** and **Port of Spain**.
- **Regional cruise operators** (e.g., **Holland America**, **MSC Cruises**) dock at the **cruise berth** for day‑trips.
The port’s **strategic location**, low administrative overhead, and compliance with **IMO** and **EU** maritime standards have attracted **short‑sea shipping alliances**, reinforcing its role as a **logistics hub for the Lesser Antilles**.
---
**References**
1. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – **UN/LOCODE Database** (ANEUX) – https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/
2. NOAA – **World Port Index** – https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
*Prepared by the Maritime Intelligence Unit, 2024.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
ANEUX
Country
Netherlands
Province / Region
Sint Maarten
Latitude
18.034826
Longitude
-63.084167
Timezone
America/Curacao
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Sint Eustatius (Antilles)?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Sint Eustatius (Antilles) is ANEUX.
Where is Port of Sint Eustatius (Antilles) located?
The Port of Sint Eustatius (Antilles) is located in Netherlands, Sint Maarten. Its coordinates are 18.0348°N, -63.0842°E.
What time zone is Port of Sint Eustatius (Antilles) in?
Port of Sint Eustatius (Antilles) operates in the America/Curacao time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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