WILLEMSTAD, ORANJESTAD – Curaçao and Aruba have officially taken the first step toward establishing a ferry service between the two islands, aimed at strengthening economic, social, and maritime cooperation within the region.
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 described as an important milestone toward regional integration, sustainable mobility, and closer maritime collaboration.
Both countries’ Councils of Ministers have approved the project’s Plan of Approach. As part of this decision, the Netherlands has granted funding through the Landspakket framework, making a subsidy available for the first phase of the project.
The initiative includes a joint feasibility study, as well as the preparation and execution of a public procurement process. The objective is to attract a qualified ferry operator capable of providing a reliable, efficient, and future-proof service between the two islands.
In the coming months, the focus will be on assessing technical, economic, and environmental conditions, along with consultations with key stakeholders. If the results are positive, the project will move into the tendering phase, with the goal of awarding the concession to an operator in 2026.
Minister Middelhof highlighted the broader significance of the project, stating that it reflects Curaçao’s ambition to deepen economic and tourism cooperation within the region. “A ferry connection between our islands is more than a mode of transport; it is a bridge toward sustainable growth and stronger regional ties,” he said.
Aruba’s Minister Wever also welcomed the initiative, noting that the project was developed in close cooperation with Curaçao and the Netherlands. He emphasized that improved connectivity for both passengers and cargo would benefit the economies and residents of both islands, adding that regional cooperation is becoming increasingly important in light of evolving geopolitical developments in the Caribbean.