WILLEMSTAD – On Wednesday, May 6, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) docked at the 2BAYS Curaçao facilities in Bullenbaai for the first time in ten years. The vessel is loading nearly two million barrels of crude oil before departing to destinations including China, India, and Europe.
The last time Curaçao received a vessel of this size for oil-related operations was in 2016. According to 2BAYS and CRU, the arrival of the VLCC represents a significant and positive development, one that both companies have been working intensively to prepare for over the past period. The expectation is that this will benefit both companies as well as the Curaçaoan economy.
Storage and Transport
Since early 2026, 2BAYS has once again been receiving tankers at Bullenbaai for the storage of crude oil, including oil originating from Venezuela. At the same time, vessels are departing with oil bound for other countries. The nearly two million barrels currently being loaded come from the oil that was brought to Curaçao earlier this year.
Deep Water Makes Bullenbaai the Ideal Fit
A VLCC is a vessel measuring between 300 and 350 meters in length and 50 to 65 meters in width — roughly the length of three football fields. The Bullenbaai facilities have historically been well-suited for large vessels of this kind, owing to the deep water on this side of the coastline.
Preparations
Ahead of the vessel’s arrival, staff from CRU and local contractors carried out maintenance on the operational infrastructure. Employees received refresher training on handling a vessel of this size. Coordination also took place with KTK to ensure a sufficient number of pilots would be available to guide the VLCC into port.
