SLAC – Port St.Maarten

Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation

(SLAC)

Managing the Gateway to St. Maarten’s Yachting Life

As the managing body for the Simpson Bay Lagoon, SLAC is responsible for a wide range of essential services. These include the collection of mooring fees, active maintenance of the lagoon, and management of crucial dredging and navigation systems. In a collaborative effort with the St. Maarten Police Force and the Coast Guard, SLAC ensures the safety of all users, encouraging compliance with local rules and regulations to keep the lagoon safe and free of pollution. The authority is a driving force behind the development of economically and environmentally-sustainable yachting tourism

View Bridge Opening Times

Lagoon Management and Environmental Stewardship

A key function of SLAC is the management and operation of the John Sainsborough Lejeuz Bridge (the Simpson Bay Bridge). This vital drawbridge, installed in 1986, opens three times a day to allow for the passage of both inbound and outbound vessel traffic.

The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC) is the cornerstone of St. Maarten’s renowned yachting sector, playing a critical role in managing, developing, and enhancing the island’s primary yachting haven. The vast Simpson Bay Lagoon, on the western side of the island, is a sanctuary for yachts and mega yachts from around the world. SLAC’s mission along with stakeholders is to ensure St. Maarten remains one of the most pleasant, safe, and sustainable yachting destinations in the Eastern Caribbean.

Bridge Opening Times

Simpson Bay Bridge (John Sainsborough Lejuez Bridge)

Located at the entrance to the lagoon on the Dutch side, the Simpson Bay Bridge is the primary gateway for vessels arriving from the open sea. It opens multiple times a day to allow safe access for yachts, mega yachts, and other vessels headed into the lagoon’s many marinas and anchorages.

• Clearance (closed): approx. 8.5 ft (varies with tide)

• Speed limit in bridge channel and lagoon: 5 mph

• VHF Channel 12: Call ahead for entry/exit

• No anchorage in the fairway

Bridge Opening Times

8:30 AM – Outbound

9:30 AM – Inbound

10:30 AM – Outbound

11:30AM – Inbound

02:00 PM – Inbound

4:00 PM – Outbound

05:00 PM – Inbound

Causeway Bridge

The Causeway Swing Bridge connects the western part of the lagoon to areas near Cupecoy and Princess Juliana International Airport. Designed for both road and marine traffic, it eases congestion around the Simpson Bay area and offers an alternate route for vessels within the lagoon.

• State-of-the-art swing bridge with pedestrian walkways and …traffic lanes

• Provides access to French and Dutch sides of the lagoon

• Vessels must contact bridge operator via VHF Channel 12

• Anchorage is prohibited near the bridge and runway extension

• Strategically positioned near Porto Cupecoy and Isle de Sol
…marinas

Bridge Opening Times

08:00 AM

10:00 AM

04:30 PM

Speed Limits & Safety

Max 5 mph in channels and lagoon

No wake zones near anchorage areas and marinas

IALA Zone B (American buoyage system) in effect

Vessels must not anchor in fairways or entrance channels

Bridge Communication & Entry Protocol

Hail Channel 12 VHF before bridge approach

Announce vessel name, direction (in/out), and intended marina

Keep fairways clear for outbound traffic

Entry Protocol: Cupecoy Marina → Sint Maarten Shipyard → Gateway Marina → Simpson Bay Marina → Port de Plaisance → Isle Del Sol