Permit· Aruba· Other Caribbean

Aruba Clearance (Oranjestad H Pier / Barcadera)

12° 31.3′ N · 70° 2.7′ W

Aruba clears yachts in at a commercial quay: the Aruba Ports Authority now names the Port of Oranjestad (H Pier) as the main port of entry, while older guides and a Noonsite FAQ send yachts to the industrial harbour at Barcadera - call Port Control before you come in and go where they direct you.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

CURRENT (Noonsite Oranjestad page, updated March 2026): Aruba Port Control does not allow yachts to clear in at Oranjestad at present - all vessels must clear in at Barcadera (see Barcadera Customs Dock). Noonsite's Oranjestad docking page (February 2026) also calls Barcadera the mandatory clearance stop. Call Aruba Ports Authority / Marine Traffic Control on VHF 16 (working channel 11; tower staffed 24/7) to arrange entry; fly the Q flag; nobody goes ashore until cleared; stay in the yellow-marked H Pier area until Customs and Immigration clear you; vessels arriving after 10 pm may, with Coast Guard permission, anchor in the designated anchorage and clear in the morning (APA yachting page, current). H Pier position per APA: 12°31.285'N 070°02.709'W. Departure: notify APA on VHF 16 and leave only after clearance. Towage/wharfage tariffs apply only to boats requesting a berth, not to clearance-only stops (APA). Customs use SailClear pre-arrival; every crew member completes the online ED card (Noonsite). Arrivals by air pay a US$20 Sustainability Fee via the ED card (aruba.com, effective July 1, 2024) - confirm whether it is charged to yacht crew. Older reports: Barcadera dock fees US$10/hour 8 am-4 pm and US$15/hour 4 pm-8 am (Virgintino 2015, verify); boats staying over 7 days had to temporarily import via a customs broker (~US$65-100, 2015 - verify). Coordinate: APA H Pier position. The APA yachting page still describes the H Pier procedure - follow whatever Port Control tells you on VHF 16/11.

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Clearing into Aruba

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