Curaçao And Aruba Take First Step Toward Ferry Connection

Curaçao and Aruba have officially taken the first concrete step toward establishing a ferry service between the two islands, marking a significant move to strengthen economic, social, and maritime cooperation within the southern Caribbean.

On December 12, 2025, Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development, Roderick Middelhof, and Aruba’s Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and the Primary Sector, Geoffrey Wever, formally gave the start signal for the development of a ferry connection linking Aruba and Curaçao. The initiative is being positioned as an important milestone toward closer regional integration, sustainable mobility, and improved maritime connectivity.

The project has received approval from the Councils of Ministers of both countries, providing the political mandate needed to move forward. In addition, the Government of the Netherlands has made funding available through the Landspakket framework, granting a subsidy for the project’s initial phase. This support allows both islands to jointly explore the feasibility of the ferry connection in a structured and coordinated manner.

The first phase of the initiative includes a joint feasibility study and the preparation of a public procurement process. The aim is to attract a qualified ferry operator capable of delivering a reliable, efficient, and future-oriented service between the two islands. Key areas of assessment will include technical requirements, financial viability, environmental impact, port infrastructure, and passenger and cargo demand.

Curaçao and Aruba are located approximately 75 kilometers (about 47 miles) apart, making a ferry connection a potentially attractive alternative to air travel for both passengers and light cargo. A ferry service could support tourism, facilitate business travel, improve logistics, and create new opportunities for residents who regularly move between the islands for work, family, or education.

In the coming months, both governments will engage with key stakeholders, including port authorities, maritime experts, tourism organizations, and private sector partners. If the feasibility study produces positive results, the project will advance to the tendering phase, with the intention of awarding a concession to a ferry operator in 2026.

Minister Middelhof emphasized that the project goes beyond transportation alone. He noted that the ferry initiative reflects Curaçao’s ambition to deepen economic and tourism cooperation within the region. According to him, a ferry connection between Aruba and Curaçao would serve as a bridge toward sustainable growth and stronger regional ties.

Aruba’s Minister Wever also welcomed the initiative, highlighting that it was developed in close cooperation with Curaçao and the Netherlands. He stressed that improved connectivity for both passengers and cargo would benefit businesses, residents, and visitors on both islands. Minister Wever further pointed out that regional cooperation is becoming increasingly important amid changing geopolitical and economic dynamics in the Caribbean.

If realized, the ferry connection would represent a practical step toward greater regional integration, offering a new layer of mobility while reinforcing the longstanding relationship between Aruba and Curaçao.