ORANJESTAD – The planned ferry connection between Aruba and Curaçao remains under consideration despite the cancellation of the first tender procedure for the project’s feasibility study.
The Government of Aruba ended the tender after all submitted proposals for the preparatory research exceeded the available budget by more than 20 percent. The decision creates uncertainty about the timeline but does not officially end the ferry initiative.
The feasibility study is an important first step in determining whether a passenger ferry service between the two islands can be successfully established.
The research would examine technical requirements, economic viability and legal aspects of the connection. It would also support the later selection process for a private ferry operator.
The governments of Aruba and Curaçao agreed at the end of 2025 on a joint plan to establish a permanent maritime connection. The first phase, including the feasibility study, is partly financed by the Netherlands through the Landspakket program.
Alternative to air travel
The ferry project is intended to provide an alternative to the relatively expensive and limited air connections between Aruba and Curaçao.
The governments expect a maritime link to strengthen passenger mobility and economic cooperation between the islands. Earlier discussions also included the possibility of transporting cargo, although the current research assignment focuses specifically on passenger transport.
The cancellation of the tender means that the original project schedule is now uncertain. It remains unclear when a new tender could be issued or whether changes will be made to the budget or the requirements of the assignment.
A new timeline for selecting a ferry operator has not yet been announced.