WILLEMSTAD, ORANJESTAD – Aruba and Curaçao have launched a tender to hire a consultant who will guide the process of establishing a passenger ferry connection between the two islands.
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and the Primary Sector of Aruba announced that the Terms of Reference for the assignment have been published. The selected consultant will oversee several phases of the project aimed at creating a regular ferry service.
The process will begin with a comprehensive analysis of the economic, legal and technical feasibility of a maritime passenger connection between the islands. This will be followed by the preparation of tender documents for a ferry operator, guidance during the bidding process and, ultimately, a recommendation on which company should operate the service.
According to the ministries involved, the ferry connection is intended to provide an alternative to current air travel between the ABC islands, which is often relatively expensive and limited in capacity. A maritime link is expected to facilitate passenger transport and strengthen economic cooperation between the islands.
The initiative stems from a memorandum of understanding signed by Aruba and Curaçao in 2023 aimed at boosting economic cooperation and regional integration.
Companies interested in the consultancy assignment can submit questions until March 6. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 20, with the selection of the consultant scheduled for March 30.
According to the project timeline, the final selection of a ferry operator should take place no later than February 26, 2027.