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Regional Ports: Average Draft
Freeport Harbour Company
Freeport Harbour Company is privately owned and operated through a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and The Port Group (The Grand Bahama Port Authority). Freeport Harbour is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world and the deepest harbour in the region. The entrance channel and turning basin are dredged to a depth of 16m (52 ft.). There is also a huge expanse of sheltered waters. Businesses at the harbour include Cruise and Day Ferry visits, Roll-on/Roll-off facilities for containerised and LTL cargo, Car Transshipment, Wet Docking and Ship Repair Facilities. Freeport Harbour can accommodate three (3) cruise ships, five (5) roll-on/roll-off vessels, two 900-ft wet-docking berths. Vessels with a maximum draft of 30ft can be accommodated alongside. Cruise lines of up to 1000 ft., length overall, can be facilitated. Tugboat and pilot services are also available.
Harbour information |
|
| Entrance Channel & Turning Basin | 16 m (52 ft.) MLW |
| Ship Berths | 6 |
| Total Berth Length | 2,501 m (8,207 ft.) |
| Minimum Depth Alongside | 9.14 m (30 ft.) |
Cargo |
|
| Annual Handling Capacity | 25,000 Trailers |
| Trailer Park Capacity | 500 Trailers |
| Customs Warehouse | 37,332 sq. ft. |
| Bonded Warehouse | 3,468 sq. ft. |
| Ro/Ro Ramps | 4 |
Cruise |
|
| Cruise Terminals | 2 |
| Retail & Entertainment Complex | 26,000 sq. ft. |
| Cultural Bahamian Straw Market | |
| Efficient Transportation Layout, including covered waiting areas | |
| **Tugboat and pilotage services are available 24 hours | |
Lucayan Harbour Cruise Facility, situated on the waterways of Freeport Harbour, has undergone a $10.9 million re-development programme in order to upgrade the cruise passenger terminal facilities, which process under 1,000,000 visitors annually. Facility includes:
- Sheltered staging areas for the pick-up/drop-off of passengers
- A retail complex and a craft market featuring local straw work and other indigenous craft.
- Extensive landscaping and a more efficient ground transportation layout are major features of this facility.
- New tropical landscaping
- Two first class renovated cruise ship terminals with the ability to be combined to handle a 3,000 passenger homeport cruise vessel.
Freeport Harbour Company is also a major landlord with ship repair facilities and other marine operations within the harbour. A modern ship repair operation is GRAND BAHAMA SHIPYARD, a quality rated ISO-2002 organisation, which has two floating dry docks. Dock I, a Panamax sized construction, is capable of lifting vessels of over 30,000 tons and measures 880 feet overall with a clear breadth of 115 feet. The dock is fitted with 2 x 25 ton cranes and a comprehensive range of support services.
Dock II, one of the largest floating docks in the Western Hemisphere, is a recent addition to the facility. With a lifting capacity of 82,500 tons, an overall length of 985 feet and an overall breadth of 229 feet (192 feet internally), it provides the yard with the ability to accommodate cruise ships up to 150,000 GRT and cargo vessels up to VLCC size. The dock is fitted with 2 x 20 ton cranes and a comprehensive range of support services.
Complimenting the floating docks are two fully serviced wet berths, each of which can accommodate a vessel of up to 1000 feet in length. Also on site is a state-of-the-art 34,000 square foot workshop complex, containing one of the largest lathes in the region and a wide range of machinery, which provides opportunities for mechanical solutions and fabrications.
Bradford Grand Bahama Limited, A full service yacht and ship repair facility is also housed at Freeport Harbour with services that include yacht storage, an engine shop, lay-up and wet docking facilities. Vessels are hauled-out on a 1,200 tonne floating dry dock and a 150 tonne Travelift. Recreational boats, motor and sailing yachts, fishing and military vessels have all used Bradford Grand Bahama marine maintenance and repair services. Wet dockage is available for vessels up to 315 ft., and dry storage is available for vessels under 150 tonnes.
The facility has the unchallenged and distinguished capability of lifting vessels up to and including 230 ft. in length for service and repairs. In addition to a Machine Shop, services are available for Hydraulics repairs, Carpentry, Metal Fabrication and Welding, Painting, and Fibreglassing.