Nieuw Nickerie Port is located 11.2 km inland on the Nickerie River. A 6 km stretch of the river will be dredged to allow vessels of up to 7,000 dwt to reach the port. Nieuw Nickerie Port is now being promoted as a regional port serving both western Suriname and eastern Guyana. Many of Guyana’s rice-producing areas are in the east of the country, just a few hours away, and Nieuw Nickerie offers a quicker and more cost-effective route for export than the long overland trip to Guyana’s private terminals near Georgetown. The port also handles imports of fertilisers and other items. It is hoped that Nieuw Nickerie Port could become a key player in the national maritime sector through a range of new activities. New roads are planned for the region, including one linking Nieuw Nickerie with the Apura region, 100 km up the Corantijn River. In addition, offshore exploration for oil has begun in the region and this could lead to a range of opportunities including supply base services.
NIEUW NICKERIE PORT AT A GLANCE LOCATION: In north-west Suriname, on the Nickerie River, 11.2 km from the estuary marker buoy. The river is 150 metres wide at Nieuw Nickerie. CARGOES: Exports – bananas, rice; imports – fertilisers, packaging materials, agricultural supplies, cement. PORT AREA: 1.5 hectares. JETTY: New concrete pier 250 metres in length and 30 metres wide. Completed in June 2012. DEPTH ALONGSIDE TERMINAL: 4.5 metres at low tide. Vessels of up to 6,000 dwt can be accommodated. BANANA WAREHOUSE: 1,237 square metres. CONTAINER STORAGE: About 8,000 square metres (to be constructed). REEFER STORAGE: 32 plug-in points for refrigerated containers (to be constructed in 2014).
SURINAME PORTS HANDBOOK 2014
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