The Captain’s Desk
Plan your Sint Maarten port call.
Bridge access, clearance, berthing, fuel, provisions and logistics—what to know before the vessel arrives.
The details behind a smoother call.
Choose the decision in front of you. Each guide shows what to check, what to send and what can change.
Updated 23 July 2026
Arrival and clearance
Bridge access, arrival area and the documents needed before entry.
- Simpson Bay Bridge Transit: Opening Times, VHF 12 and the ApproachWhat to check before the bridge: opening information, radio procedure, berth status and vessel particulars.Captain · Chief officer2 minRead guide
- Great Bay or Simpson Bay Lagoon? A Yacht Berthing and Arrival GuideHow each area differs in access, berth fit, shore work and guest movements, and what to check before booking.Captain · Yacht manager2 minRead guide
- Yacht Clearance in Sint Maarten: Documents, Offices and TimingThe papers, crew and guest records, and previous-port documents to prepare before a Dutch-side arrival.Captain · Purser2 minRead guide
Berth, schedule and fuel
Vessel fit, a compressed work list and bunkering preparation.
- Can Your Yacht Enter Simpson Bay Lagoon? Bridge, Draft and Berth ChecksBeam, draft, air draft, bridge constraints and berth details to establish whether the yacht can reach its allocated berth.Captain · Chief officer2 minRead guide
- Short-Notice Sint Maarten Port Call: A Captain and Purser ChecklistWhat to lock down first when clearance, deliveries, crew movements and departure all compete for the same short window.Captain · Purser2 minRead guide
- Superyacht Bunkering in Sint Maarten: A Pre-Delivery ChecklistThe details a supplier and chief engineer need before a truck, hose or shore connection reaches the yacht.Captain · Chief engineer2 minRead guide
Provisions, people and freight
The shore movements that keep crew, supplies and spares on schedule.
- Superyacht Provisioning in Sint Maarten: A Purser’s Ordering and Delivery GuideHow to write a usable order, flag difficult imports early and receive chilled, frozen and guest-specific items without confusion.Purser · Chef2 minRead guide
- Crew and Guest Transfers via SXM Airport: A Yacht Operations ChecklistThe handover details that prevent a delayed flight, missing bag or moved yacht from becoming a missed transfer.Purser · Yacht manager2 minRead guide
- Urgent Yacht Spares in Sint Maarten: Air Freight, Customs and Final DeliveryThe paperwork and handoffs needed to move an urgent spare from the supplier to the yacht.Engineer · ETO2 minRead guide
Rules, weather and jurisdictions
Waste, seasonal risk and the island’s separate Dutch and French procedures.
- Environmental Rules for Yachts in Sint Maarten: Waste, Anchoring and Marine Park AccessWaste reception, lagoon speed and anchoring rules, and the limits around protected areas and dive moorings.Chief officer · Engineer2 minRead guide
- Hurricane-Season Yacht Calls in Sint Maarten: Alerts, Contingency Plans and Departure DecisionsThe alerts, vessel preparations, insurance conditions and departure thresholds to settle before options narrow.Captain · DPA2 minRead guide
- Sint Maarten or Saint-Martin? Yacht Clearance and Port-Call DifferencesKeep Dutch and French clearance, port contacts and logistics separate when a yacht’s itinerary moves between the island’s two jurisdictions.Captain · Purser2 minRead guide
Before you arrive.
Clearance, lagoon access and bridge timing usually come first. Open the full guide for documents and vessel particulars.
What documents should a yacht prepare before arriving in Sint Maarten?
Prepare the previous-port clearance, vessel registry and insurance, crew and passenger lists, passports, vessel particulars, and the immigration and customs documents for the intended port. Check whether charter activity, cargo, pets, firearms or controlled goods add anything to the list.
Read the full guideCan our yacht enter Simpson Bay Lagoon?
Send the yacht’s LOA, maximum beam, actual draft, air draft and manoeuvring limits to the bridge or port and intended marina. Published general limits help screen the call, but they do not guarantee passage or berth acceptance.
Read the full guideWhat is the current Simpson Bay Bridge schedule?
SLAC publishes inbound and outbound movements and uses VHF Channel 12. Check the live page shortly before approach; do not work from a saved timetable.
Read the full guideCan Sea Grapes coordinate a special Simpson Bay Bridge opening?
Yes. Sea Grapes can coordinate a request for a special opening when it is arranged well in advance. Approval and final timing remain with the relevant authority, so neither can be guaranteed.
Read the full guideDoes moving between Dutch and French waters require separate clearance?
Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint-Martin use separate vessel procedures. Clearance on one side should not be treated as clearance for the other.
Read the full guideSend us the vessel details and schedule.
Email the vessel particulars, documents and work list. If timing is tight, give us a call.