Barcadera
{{Infobox port
| name = Barcadera
| image = Barcadera - panoramio (4).jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Aerial view of Barcadera (2004)
| pushpin_map = Aruba
| pushpin_map_zoom = 11
| country = Aruba
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| location = Oranjestad, Aruba
| coordinates = {{coord|12.48202|-69.99156|display=title,inline}}
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| operated = Aruba Ports Authority{{cite web|url=https://www.arubaports.com/main/barcadera/ |title=Barcadera|website=Aruba Ports|access-date=1 May 2021}}
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Barcadera is the main seaport for cargo ships in Aruba. It is located in Barcadera, district Santa Cruz[https://cbs.aw/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GAC_Officiele-versie_27-juni-2019.pdf Classification geogaphical addresses 2019], Central Bureau of Statistics Aruba and was officially opened on 12 April 2016. The seaport is operated by Aruba Stevedoring (ASTEC) Company N.V., a private entity established by nine local shareholders (all N.V.'s). This initiative was part of the effort to upgrade and modernize the port of Aruba to accommodate the increasing containerization of cargo.{{cite web |title=About ASTEC |url=https://www.astecaruba.com/main/about/ |website=ASTEC Aruba |access-date=March 17, 2025}}
History
Plans to create the harbour began in 1994.{{cite web|url=https://www.arubaports.com/main/move/ |title=Container Port Moves to Barcadera|website=Aruba Ports|access-date=1 May 2021}} The harbour at Oranjestad was large enough, however the cargo ships had to share the port with cruise ships which often caused problems. The first priority was to move the container terminal. Work began in 2011, and the move was completed in 2015. On 12 April 2016, the Barcadera harbour was officially opened by Prime minister Mike Eman.
The existing harbour at Oranjestad needed to be dredged. The dredging started in 2018, and the sand was used to reclaim {{convert|500|ha}} of land extending the Barcadera terminal.{{cite web|url=https://www.dutchdredging.nl/projecten/onderhoudsbaggerwerk/baggeren-vaargeul-oranjestad-en-uitbreiding-containerterminal-barcadera |title=Baggeren vaargeul Oranjestad en uitbreiding container terminal Barcadera|website=Dutch Dredging|access-date=1 May 2021|language=nl}}
Free zone
A part of the harbour has been designated a free zone. It is one of two free zones in Aruba.{{cite web|url=https://www.freezonearuba.com/aruba-free-zone/barcadera-free-zone/ |title=Barcadera Free Zone|website=Free Zone Aruba|access-date=1 May 2021}} For licensed companies engaging in sustainable projects, there are 0% import duties and other taxes, and a 2% profit tax.{{cite web|url=https://valsen-corporate.com/aruba-free-zone-license/ |title=Aruba Free License|website=Valsen Corporate|access-date=1 May 2021}}
References
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Category:Ports and harbours of Aruba
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