Fort Bay

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Port in Saba, Caribbean Netherlands

title: "Fort Bay" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["geography-of-saba-(island)", "buildings-and-structures-in-the-bottom", "transport-in-saba-(island)"] description: "Port in Saba, Caribbean Netherlands" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bay" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Port in Saba, Caribbean Netherlands ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox port"]

FieldValue
nameFort Bay
imageFort Bay, Saba.jpg
image_captionFort Bay
countrySaba
locationThe Bottom, Saba
coordinates
opened1972
typeArtificial
piers2
website
::

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Fort Bay is the official and only port on the island of Saba, in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is located on the south side of the island, about 1 mile by road from The Bottom. The port is very important for the island as most of its supplies arrive here by boat.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Saba._Bergweg_Fort_Bay_Landing,_Bestanddeelnr_935-1260.jpg" caption="The Road]]" connecting Fort Bay to [[The Bottom"] ::

Prior to the opening of the road to Fort Bay, the primary way to get goods and people on or off the island was via Ladder Bay (and its 800 perilous steps hand-cut out of the cliffside).

Fort Bay's first pier was constructed in November 1972. Since then, Fort Bay harbor has grown to multiple piers:

  • Capt. Leo Chance Pier, the larger pier, dedicated to cargo boats, dive boats, and ferries
  • Multipurpose/fishermen's pier, mostly used by local fishermen
  • Tender pier, used for tendering passengers from yachts and small cruise ships ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Fort_Bay_with_Mutty's_Pride_(6549981437).jpg" caption="Cargo ship docked at Capt. Leo Chance Pier, Fort Bay"] ::

During 2010–2011, various improvements were made to the Fort Bay harbor, including the quay wall, boat ramp, and retaining wall. In 2023, upgrades were done to Capt. Leo Chance Pier and the roll-on/roll-off pier.

The port is also home to the Saba Sea Rescue Organization that have a rescue ship stationed just outside the mouth to the port. The ship is equipped with decompression tanks, rescue equipment and personnel. On land at Fort Bay, there is a hyperbaric chamber for diving emergency situations.

The port has two bars and one restaurant which are frequently visited by locals and tourists. Additionally the island's only gas station is situated located just past Fort Bay.

Fort Bay has been affected by several hurricanes over the years, including breakwaters damage in Hurricane Lenny in 1999, one of the piers being destroyed by Hurricane Omar in 2008, and the fisherman's pier being damaged by Hurricane Irma and later destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Transport

Fort Bay has multiple ferry services operating between Saba and Sint Maarten, including The Edge (based on Sint Maarten), and the Dawn II (based on Saba) with almost daily trips.

Gallery

File:Trent Bay with Fort Bay Ferry Terminal (6550045533).jpg|Tent Bay (left) and Fort Bay (right) File:Saba Deep with Water Treatment Plant (6549980927).jpg|Dive center and water treatment building near entrance (from road) to Fort Bay File:Edge II Aqua Mania Saba Shuttle (6550044209).jpg|Ferry in Fort Bay harbor File:Bijleveld Fort Bay, Saba, 27 september 2019.jpg|View of Fort Bay from ferry

References

References

  1. (February 2025). "Fort Bay Harbor {{!}} Maritime History".
  2. (2018-06-21). "About Saba".
  3. "Saba: A Beautiful Haven for Scuba Divers and Nature Lovers {{!}} Scuba Diving".
  4. Van Vilsteren, W.L. [https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A79b38f8a-54f6-4be3-88f8-56affd6bfd9d Fort Bay, Saba: A study on hurricane condities]. October 2001. [[Delft University of Technology]].
  5. (2022-11-02). "The Captain Leo A.I. Chance pier at the Fort Bay harbor will mark its 50th anniversary".
  6. (February 2025). "Fort Bay Harbor: Facilities".
  7. (February 2025). "Fort Bay Harbor Saba {{!}} Saba Ferry Services {{!}} Travel to Saba".
  8. "The Island of Saba: After the Storm – Passion Passport".
  9. (February 2025). "Fort Bay Harbor Saba: Cruises Visiting Saba".
  10. [https://windwardroads.com/new-quay-fort-bay-harbour-saba/ New Quay Fort Bay Harbour Saba]. Janssen de Jong Caribbean. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  11. (2023-02-14). "Upgrading works at Fort Bay Harbor ongoing".
  12. "Transportation".
  13. Durand, Hazel. [https://caribbeannetwork.ntr.nl/2017/09/21/fort-bay-harbor-saba-damaged-after-hurricane-maria/ Fort Bay harbor Saba damaged after Hurricane Maria]. 21 September 2017. Caribbean Network News.
  14. "The Edge".
  15. "Dawn II {{!}} Ferry {{!}} Saba C-Transport, N.V.".
  16. [https://www.sabatourism.com/gettosaba.html Travel Info]. Saba Tourist Bureau. Retrieved 11 November 2018.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

geography-of-saba-(island)buildings-and-structures-in-the-bottomtransport-in-saba-(island)