5 Major Ports In Antigua And Barbuda

The island nation of Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean consists of the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, which are approximately 40 km away from each other. There are other smaller islands, too, such as Maiden Island and Prickly Pear.

Its economy mainly depends on tourism, which accounts for around 80% of its GDP. Both islands have irregular coastlines spotted with natural harbours, lagoons and beaches. There are reefs and shoals which surround these islands.

Given its geographical location, it is a famous cruise destination as well and has a few ports and natural harbours.

The Port Authority of Antigua and Barbuda oversees the maritime ports on the island nation in the eastern Caribbean. Antigua’s main commercial port is the Deep Water Harbour in the capital city of St. John’s, which is the centre of tourism, trade and commerce.

This port handles all the imported cargo, and its Nevis Street Pier and Heritage Quay accommodate cruise ships.

Other ports include Falmouth Harbor and English Harbor on the southeast part of the island and the Jolly Harbor to the south.

Let’s look at the ports of Antigua and Barbuda in this article.

Port of St John’s

St.John’s is the only port facility on the island that has berths for accommodating international ships carrying cargo. General cargo ships and bulk carriers are the main visitors to the port, along with cruise ships, since Antigua’s economy relies heavily on tourism and increasing agricultural production.

High Point, which lies on the eastern part of the island, accommodates small petroleum and LPG tankers.

It deals with imports of oil, manufactured items, chemicals, machines and transportation equipment. Exports include petroleum products, food, livestock, manufactured goods and machinery.

Approximately 1400 ships, 1,365,000 tonnes of cargo, 32,600 TEU and over 600,000 passengers are dealt with at this facility annually.

Antigua Cruise Port

A renowned cruise destination, Antigua is a major part of the southern and deep southern cruise itineraries and the transatlantic routes. Antigua was born out of the sea by a volcano about 300 million years ago. It is made of limestone rocks that are surrounded by reefs. Hence, it is the perfect place for yachting and sailing. The harbour protects ships from violent storms. Its sandy beaches serve as nesting grounds for turtles.

Situated in the St. John’s Harbor, the Cruise Port of Antigua is the main gateway to the city. It also functions as a transit port and welcomes more than 700,000 passengers every year.

The facility is undergoing expansion to construct a new pier to accommodate the biggest cruise vessels, which will lead to growth in passenger volumes. With the construction and development of new retail, food and beverage facilities spanning more than 50,000 sq ft, locals will also find employment in these new ventures.

This cruise port has 2 piers adjacent to each other, the Nevis Street or the Redcliffe Quay Pier and the Heritage Quay Pier. Cruise ships dock on both sides of these piers.

At the end of the Heritage Quay Pier lies a pedestrian mall. This area, called the Heritage Quay, includes restaurants, bars, a casino and boutiques. The Redcliffe Quay was earlier a slave compound that has been made into a duty-free shopping area with bars and several restaurants. The colonial-era buildings here are painted in bright colours.

Near Redcliffe Quay lies a parking area for buses and taxis, which halt for taking passengers on shore excursions.

Those wanting to explore the island can find tours sold by taxi drivers along the Heritage Quay pedestrian mall. These drivers can be seen wearing orange shirts since they are members of the St.John’s Taxi Association and are the only ones permitted to solicit the guests in the area of the cruise port.

There are other taxi drivers, but they must be contacted outside of the port premises. Though taxis are not metered, fares are often regulated.

Smaller cruise ships dock in Falmouth Harbour while they also dock at Deep Water Harbour sometimes.

Parham Harbour

Parham Harbour was the primary port of Antigua in the 1600s when a sugar plantation was operated there by Clement Tudway. Today, the Parham fishermen call it their home and source of livelihood. The harbour remains well sheltered and has an anchorage on the northern coast.

The channel on both sides has 2 red balls off Maiden Island. Though easy to see, one can leave the channel only during the day. There is a tiny hurricane hole in the mangroves towards the southeast with a dredged entry point.

Several uninhabited islands lie in Parham and North Sound. However, the reefs around these rocky islands make reaching them in a small boat almost impossible, though a dinghy can be used.

A bus takes people from Parham village to St John’s East Bus Station from morning till afternoon. The village has a beautiful Anglican Church, a few tourist souvenir shops and bars.

North Sound Marina

Located in the north of Antigua, the North Sound Marina is near the international airport and St John’s City, where one can shop and explore places, eateries, landmarks and much more.

It is a modern marine facility which was constructed as a private boatyard by a wealthy yacht owner. There is also a dockyard and some buildings. In 2011, these areas were opened for use by the public, and the storage shed for boats, including a significant part of the yard, came under the purview of the North Sound Marine Services.

Hence, from then onwards, the North Sound Marine Services has expanded its facilities to attract marine operators and businesses to the site.

Numerous services are offered here, including pressure washing, repair, hull scraping along with dockage, tender storage and slipway launching. There are workshops and store rooms that can be rented for short periods, too. It also has a 150-tonne travel lift and an undercover storage facility.

Falmouth Harbour

This horse-shoe-shaped bay is a natural harbour on the southern coast of Antigua island in Antigua and Barbuda. It has a small port and a scenic town.

Falmouth Harbour is very beautiful and catches the eye of the travellers. It is lined with many beaches, resorts, marinas and other marine operations.

The villages of Cobbs Cross, Falmouth and English Harbour, along with neighbouring communities, share this harbour and are an integral part of its life.

English Harbour

This natural harbour and settlement lies on the extreme south on the island of Antigua. The settlement gets its name from a nearby harbour that served as a base for the Royal Navy in the 18th century.

Today, it is famous for boating and yachting and is known as the yachting capital of the Caribbean. The harbour offers stunning views and is a perfect place to enjoy with family and friends.

English Harbour is famous for the Nelson’s Dockyard. This former British Naval base also has 18th and 19th-century buildings and historical artefacts from the colonial era, especially from the time when it was commanded by Horatio Nelson. The Royal Navy had begun using it from the 17th century onwards, and in 1704, Fort Berkey was built on a spit across its entrance for defence purposes.

It is a cultural heritage site and a historic marina and also a part of the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, which also has Clarence House and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Presently, it is home to Antigua’s sailing and yachting events like the Antigua Sailing Week and the Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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