Saba starts construction of new hurricane-resistant harbor at Black Rocks
THE BOTTOM - The Public Entity Saba officially started construction of the new Black Rocks Harbor on Sunday. The harbor will be hurricane-resistant and is scheduled for completion in December 2026.
The symbolic groundbreaking took place at Fort Bay, the current harbor location. Commissioner Bruce Zagers, representatives from contractor Ballast Nedam, and local stakeholders attended the ceremony.
Harbor Master Travis Johnson emphasized the importance of the project during the ceremony. The harbor must provide more space, better safety, and a stronger structure.
Commissioner Zagers referenced Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which made the need for a safer harbor clear. "These hurricanes did help secure the required funding from the Dutch ministries," Zagers said.
The commissioner explained that various designs were studied. Due to the topography at Fort Bay, constructing a truly hurricane-proof harbor there proved nearly impossible. This led to the plan for the Black Rocks location.
Breakwaters twice as large
PES Project Director Peter Biemond provided an update on progress. Since signing the contract with Ballast Nedam International Projects last year, extensive design, modeling, and testing work has been conducted.
The 2D and 3D wave models resulted in crucial adjustments. The breakwaters will be nearly twice the size of the current harbor to ensure hurricane resistance.
An essential part of the preparations was relocating live coral from the work area. Specialists from the Bahamas and Saba Conservation Foundation replanted the coral under exactly similar conditions two kilometers to the east. This proved to be a great success.
Workers’ camp for 125 people
Biemond also provided updates on the self-supporting workers’ camp. This offers offices, dormitories, and recreational facilities for up to 125 workers, complete with its own water system and canteen.
Dredging will begin in December to prepare the site for the next phase. This includes production of large concrete elements, which will be brought to Saba early next year.
Future economic growth
Sertan Yildiz, Director of International Maritime Projects at Ballast Nedam, confirmed his team’s commitment to the project.
"This project is bigger than myself, the project team, or the island government," Zagers said. "This harbor will be a source of pride for Sabans today, tomorrow, and for generations to come."
The new harbor should position Saba as a stronger tourism destination and support future economic growth.
