News & Events

Curaçao has a long history of repairing ships, but 2026 marks 100 years since modern dry-dock ship repair began on the island. From wooden shipbuilding and coal bunkering to today's large-scale dry docks, the industry has continually adapted to a changing maritime world. As the sector celebrates its first century, new investments are setting the stage for the next chapter of ship repair in Curaçao.

This edition features highlights from the CMAR Annual General Meeting, including practical insights from Compliance & Forensic Caribbean on sanctions compliance and what it means for maritime businesses. We also share news on KTK Tugs' expansion to St. Kitts and Nevis and reflect on the Day of the Seafarer, recognizing the people who keep global trade moving.

Curaçao recently hosted the 24th Caribbean Shipping Executives’ Conference (CSEC), bringing together maritime professionals from across the region and beyond. Over three days, participants engaged in discussions on key developments shaping the sector, including resilience, digitalization, sustainability and regional collaboration. Read more about the conference highlights and Curaçao’s role as host in this month’s article.

In this month’s CMAR newsletter, we speak with Curaçao’s Harbour Master and Deputy Harbour Master about their responsibilities and the coordination required to keep all five of our ports safe, efficient and operational. This edition also features highlights from Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, where a CMAR board member attended a reception with H.M. King Willem-Alexander and H.M. Queen Máxima. In addition, we include a reminder to register for the upcoming Caribbean Shipping Executives’ Conference (CSEC) in Curaçao, as well as the start of Velas Curaçao Rendez-Vous, bringing tall ships to the Curaçao this weekend.

This month’s newsletter highlights an important pillar of Curaçao’s maritime ecosystem: CITRO. As CITRO approaches its 50th anniversary, three volunteers share insights into what it means to operate a fully citizen- and donation-driven maritime rescue organization, one that is highly trained, well-equipped and consistently prepared to respond when needed. Also in this edition: Developments around a Panama-flagged vessel detained in China. The Caribbean Shipping Association featuring our Buskabaai article. A reminder to register for the upcoming CSEC conference in Curaçao. A webinar on risk management and port resilience in the face of natural disasters Read the full newsletter right here!