PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has confirmed that the Government of St. Maarten is awaiting the results of a comprehensive assessment by Port St. Maarten on the feasibility of introducing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a fuel option for cruise ships and potential domestic energy use.
Responding to questions during the Council of Ministers press briefing, the Minister said the port is conducting an in-depth study on whether LNG should become part of the country’s energy strategy, noting that the move must be based on sound technical and environmental data.
“The port is busy doing a full assessment, including an in-depth analysis, to see if LNG is the way to go,” Minister Heyliger-Marten explained. “We need to understand if we should move forward completely with LNG or ensure we remain diverse in our energy options.”
The Minister acknowledged that several major cruise lines are gradually transitioning to cleaner fuels, including LNG, but clarified that not all ships are powered entirely by LNG.
“Cruise ships today have different types of fuel systems. None is fully 100% LNG — many use a combination of fuels,” she said. “That’s why St. Maarten must remain flexible and make an informed decision once the report is finalized.”
Asked whether St. Maarten could face competition from neighboring islands such as Antigua, which already has LNG fueling facilities, the Minister said it would be premature to speculate before the port’s findings are completed.
“I would still await the results of the report from Port St. Maarten,” she said. “Once that analysis is done, we’ll be better positioned to decide the way forward.”
The port’s LNG feasibility assessment is expected to guide future policy decisions on sustainable maritime energy infrastructure, aligning with global trends toward cleaner fuel use in the cruise industry.
