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Moored at the main dock of the commercial port terminal, a cargo ship is gradually unloading its cargo. The ballet of trucks unloading containers and machines transferring pallets is incessant. It's just another morning at the port of Saint-Barthélemy, where driving requires constant attention and skill. This is due to the high volume of traffic, but also to the space, which has been modified as a result of expansion work that began in May 2025 and is now well underway.
Ernest Brin, director of the port of Saint-Barthélemy.
A new oil terminal
The filling of the dock, which will add nearly 2,200 square meters of space, has been completed. This was a major operation, but it did not disrupt port activity too much. "Thanks to the Bachy Balineau and Arc consortium, which provided us with a large section of the embankment to store containers," recalls Ernest Brin, the port director. "Without this, the commercial port would have been blocked from December 17." The work in progress will notably enable the oil terminal to be completely closed.
Ernest Brin explains: "The old part of the inner dock was square. By filling it in, we gained space that can be used for container storage and cargo handling, allowing us to work in maximum safety conditions." Closing the dock is all well and good, but it has to be done intelligently. "We couldn't lose any berths, especially for small boats," emphasizes the director. "Now, we can accommodate two boats instead of one at the same berth. This streamlines operations and frees up space."
At the same time, a chamber has been created to accommodate the new oil terminal. With a brand new and more impressive facility, oil tankers can be unloaded and fuel transferred more quickly to Rubi and the EDF power plant.
An operational marine station
The work also provided the port with a new marine station, which came into service in December 2025. It includes the SNSM (Société nationale de sauvetage en mer) station, a waste storage facility, and a fuel pump. "For years, the goal has been to find a way to dispose of all the waste that accumulates on the Général de Gaulle quay," says Ernest Brin. "We took advantage of this opportunity to create a larger storage area. At certain times of the year, we would end up with a huge stockpile of trash. We have already seen how effective this new system is. The information has been passed on to both passing boats and those at anchor. It is an investment that is 100% operational and 100% productive."
The local government has invested around €10 million in the project. This operation has become essential in view of the constant increase in traffic and the number of goods imported into Saint Barthélemy. For the record, all goods unloaded at the port are subject to a 5% tax. Dock dues bring in more than €20 million to the local government each year.
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A "huge" step forward for the SNSM
The lives of the volunteers at the SNSM (Société nationale de sauvetage en mer) have changed radically. Since their two boats have been moored at the new marine station and they have had an operational station, the constraints have disappeared. "That's what we were missing," says boss Julien Lestin. "The station is the cornerstone of rescue operations. Thanks to Ernest, we've found a solution." The crew now has a room to prepare before each operation and space to store equipment. "And being at the port exit speeds up response times," explains the boss. "We're already almost at the entrance to the channel. All these advantages combined mean we save more than half an hour on our response time." As for the premises, they are almost perfect, says Julien Lestin. "At the moment, it's a little rough around the edges, but we're going to start renovating it," he smiles. "It's not a vacation home, it had to be practical, which it is. The only thing missing is water, which will arrive in February. It's a huge step forward." |
