Sint Maarten (Dutch part): Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
9 harbours · 2 bridges and locks
Sint Maarten (Dutch part): 9 harbours, 2 bridges and locks, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Caribbean guilder (US dollar widely used)
Clearing in: Autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, outside the EU, the EU customs territory and Schengen. Ports of entry: Simpson Bay and Philipsburg (Great Bay); no advance notice, in person at the port of entry, plus for every person the ED card on entry.sx (up to seven days in advance, free). In Simpson Bay, customs and immigration are in the police station west of the bridge, where the lagoon authority's cashier also sits; bridge, harbour and clearance fees are due immediately. Coming from Saint Martin (French part) you clear separately, even within the lagoon.
Ausreise: Clear out at a port of entry before departure (port clearance): the next state asks for the certificate on clearing in.
Documents: Passport mandatory, the identity card is not enough; valid for six months beyond departure. No visa needed, the permitted length of stay for Germans has not been officially established (usually 90 days). Boat papers, insurance.
Fees: Clearance by gross tonnage: USD 5 up to 99, USD 10 up to 499, USD 20 above (according to sailors); plus the lagoon's bridge and mooring fees.
Fairway: Buoyage follows IALA system B: red to starboard when entering from seaward, the reverse of Europe. Into Simpson Bay Lagoon through two bascule bridges: Simpson Bay Bridge outbound 8:30, 10:30 and 16:00, inbound 9:30, 11:30, 14:00 and 17:00; Causeway Bridge 8:00, 10:00 and 16:30; call on VHF channel 12 beforehand, about 8.5 ft clearance when closed. In the lagoon 5 mph at most, do not anchor in the channel.
Nature: Man of War Shoal Marine Park: dive moorings only for boats under 14 m and 30 t, two hours at most; no anchoring within 50 m of the moorings; registration and fee online.
Tropical storm season: 1 June to 30 November, peak August to October. Simpson Bay Lagoon (Saint Martin and Sint Maarten) is regarded as a shelter, but 139 wrecks were removed there after Irma in 2017, and about 900 boats were lost in Luis in 1995. Insurers usually restrict cover: check your policy.
Emergency: Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (rescue coordination centre in Curaçao): emergency number 913 or +599 9 463 7620, listening watch on VHF channel 16.
Sources: Port St. Maarten: Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority, Yachting St. Maarten: Clearance and Regulations, Visit St. Maarten: Entry Form, Nature Foundation: Man of War Shoal Marine Park, Kustwacht: contact, Noonsite: Sint Maarten, Auswärtiges Amt: Netherlands (with the Caribbean), travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Sint Maarten (Simpson Bay, Philipsburg)
Bridges and locks
Movable bridges
Frequently asked questions
Sint Maarten (Dutch part): Do I need to clear in?
Autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, outside the EU, the EU customs territory and Schengen. Ports of entry: Simpson Bay and Philipsburg (Great Bay); no advance notice, in person at the port of entry, plus for every person the ED card on entry.sx (up to seven days in advance, free). In Simpson Bay, customs and immigration are in the police station west of the bridge, where the lagoon authority's cashier also sits; bridge, harbour and clearance fees are due immediately. Coming from Saint Martin (French part) you clear separately, even within the lagoon.
Sint Maarten (Dutch part): Which documents do I need on board?
Passport mandatory, the identity card is not enough; valid for six months beyond departure. No visa needed, the permitted length of stay for Germans has not been officially established (usually 90 days). Boat papers, insurance.
Sint Maarten (Dutch part): What fees apply?
Clearance by gross tonnage: USD 5 up to 99, USD 10 up to 499, USD 20 above (according to sailors); plus the lagoon's bridge and mooring fees.
Sint Maarten (Dutch part): What is the emergency number at sea?
Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (rescue coordination centre in Curaçao): emergency number 913 or +599 9 463 7620, listening watch on VHF channel 16.
Sint Maarten (Dutch part): How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 9 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning. Plus 2 bridges and locks with opening times and clearances.