POINT BLANCHE:--- The extended two-hour bridge opening is tentatively set for Friday, May 3 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SMHG) Management said on Wednesday.
All stakeholders are reminded to inform employees and hotel guests, while others are requested to take note, airlines, travelers (day visitors), employees, car rentals, taxis and others, of the extended bridge opening that will take place in connection with the arrival and transit through the draw bridge by the cargo vessel Marietje Andrea carrying the Causeway Swing Bridge.
Notification Boards have already been placed at strategic points notifying motorists about the extended bridge opening on May 3.
Prior to the transition of the longest vessel ever to enter the Simpson Bay Lagoon, the wind conditions at the Simpson Bay Bridge must also be at an acceptable safe level to have an incident free transit.
Night-time transition of the cargo vessel into the Lagoon is not feasible for a number of reasons. Firstly, during the day time its high tide and this would contribute to the safe transit of the vessel into the Lagoon; secondly, from a safety perspective, daylight allows for all coordinators to have a bird's eye view when the vessel moves through the draw bridge which leaves very little room for error because there will only be 80 centimetres of clearance between the vessel and both sides of the bridge.
Management of the Harbour Group of Companies regrets any inconvenience that this extended bridge opening will cause and expresses its apologies to all stakeholders. At the same time, the harbour group would like to thank all those to date who are playing a critical role in making this transit safe and incident free.
Everything will be in place for a smooth transition of the vessel through the lagoon, and provisions are also in place for emergency services. Police, Fire and Ambulance contingencies, are in place. Protocol arrangements are being made with French government officials for Dutch side emergency vehicles to use the French road network to access the Western and Eastern sections of the Dutch side during the two hour bridge opening in the event of an emergency.
The 126 meter long (413 feet) cargo transport vessel Marietje Andrea is 15 meters wide (49 feet) and has a gross tonnage of 5418. The longest vessel to ever enter the Simpson Bay Lagoon is the 96 meter (316 feet) mega yacht Limitless. The Andrea is almost 100 feet longer than the Limitless.
The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation, is a subsidiary of SMHG, and has an advisory role with respect to Simpson Bay and the Simpson Bay Lagoon.
