Local News
Simpson Bay dock closes Wednesday for two to three months; Immigration moves to PJIA Ferry Dock
The Simpson Bay dock closes from Wednesday, October 7, for refurbishment works expected to last about two to three months. Immigration services move to the Ferry Dock at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) from Wednesday for the duration of the works.
By SXM Daily ยท
The Simpson Bay dock will no longer be accessible from Wednesday, October 7, while it is rebuilt. Immigration services normally handled at the dock move to the Ferry Dock at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) from Wednesday for the duration of the works, according to a government press release issued on Monday, October 5.
Government expects the work to take about two to three months. It has not given an exact completion date.
Where to go now
The temporary Immigration location at the PJIA Ferry Dock is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The release does not say which days of the week those hours cover.
The Ministry of Justice is also looking into opening a second temporary service location for the maritime community. Discussions are ongoing, and the ministry has not said where it might be or when a decision will come. Government says it will share more information once arrangements are final.
Who this affects
The change matters most to people who would normally use Immigration services at Simpson Bay: yacht captains, yacht agents, marinas and other vessel operators. The release asks these groups to take note of the temporary arrangements.
The release only describes Immigration as moving. It does not say whether other services offered in the Simpson Bay area are affected. Boaters with questions about other clearance steps should check directly with the relevant agency before arriving.
What is being built
The project is a partnership between the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) and The Gioia Group. According to the release, the work covers:
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a full rebuild of the dock
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a rebuilt parking area
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a dedicated garbage room
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trees and landscaping
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repairs to the nearby police station and the sewage treatment system
Some preparation has already been done. Over the past month, lights, broken fencing, car wrecks and a bin were removed from the site, the release says.
Background
VROMI first announced the partnership with The Gioia Group in early February 2026, describing it as a public-private partnership to rebuild and improve the Simpson Bay dock. At the time, no timeline was given. The October release is the first to set a start date and an estimated duration. Neither announcement included a cost, and government has not said what the project will cost.
What happens next
The dock is expected to stay closed until the works are complete, which government estimates will take around two to three months from October 7. The key open question for the marine community is the possible second temporary location. SXM Daily will update this story when the Ministry of Justice announces those arrangements.
Sources
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https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/Pages/press-release.aspx?slug=immigration-and-martime-services-temporarily-relocated-to-ferry-dock-at-pjia-during-simpson-bay-dock-refurbishment
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https://www.721news.com/2026/02/vromi-gioia-group-partner-to-rebuild-simpsonbay-dock-invest-in-community/
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https://smn-news.com/index.php/st-maarten-st-martin-news/49901-vromi-gioia-group-partner-to-rebuild-simpson-bay-dock-invest-in-community.html
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https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/simpson-bay-dock-to-undergo-refurbishment-work-starting-oct-7