CHARTER · SINT MAARTEN

Chartering a boat in Sint Maarten: licence, rules and safety

Last verified:

EMERGENCY AT SEACall Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (MOC) on +599 9 463 7700. MAYDAY on VHF 16 · DSC 70.

Season and weather

The Meteorological Department St. Maarten gives the Atlantic hurricane season as 1 June – 30 November.

Meteorological Department St. Maarten ▾
meteosxm.com (2026-10-14): “The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially began on June 1 and continues through November 30.”

Forecast: The Meteorological Department St. Maarten (MDS) issues public forecasts, advisories and warnings for Sint Maarten (meteosxm.com); Meteo Curaçao also provides services for the island.

Meteorological Department St. Maarten · Meteorological Department Curaçao ▾
meteosxm.com (2026-10-14): “Meteorological Department St. Maarten (MDS)”
meteo.cw (2026-10-14): “Furthermore Meteo Curaçao provides services for other Caribbean islands (namely Bonaire, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and Saba) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.”

Rules on the water

Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin: The speed limit in the Simpson Bay bridge channel and the lagoon is 5 mph. Do not anchor in the fairway.

Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (Port St. Maarten Group) ▾
web.archive.org (2026-10-14): “• Clearance (closed): approx. 8.5 ft (varies with tide) • Speed limit in bridge channel and lagoon: 5 mph • VHF Channel 12: Call ahead for entry/exit • No anchorage in the fairway”

Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin: Tintamarre and Pinel are in the French Saint-Martin Nature Reserve, which provides yellow moorings there. Boats under 33 ft may anchor, but only on sand. The Pinel moorings take boats up to 40 ft and the Tintamarre moorings up to 50 ft.

Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin · Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin ▾
reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com (2026-10-14): “17 permanent yellow moorings placed at the disposition of boat ‐ up to 50 feet ou up to 15 tons ‐ by the Réserve Naturelle help limit damage to coral and plant beds. Boats under 33 feet are allowed to drop an anchor, but only on a sandy bottom.”
reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com (2026-10-14): “15 permanent yellow moorings placed at the disposition of boat – up to 40 feet or 10 tons – by the Réserve Naturelle help limit damage to plant beds. Boats under 33 ft are allowed to drop an anchor, but only on a sandy bottom.”

Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin: At Creole Rock, in the reserve's marine park, boats may enter only if they use the moorings provided. Jet skis and fishing are banned around Pinel.

Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin · Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin ▾
reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com (2026-10-14): “Creole Rock is located within the limits of the Marine Park, and as such is environmentally protected and ruled. It is possible for boats to enter this area as long as they use the moorings that have been made available.”
reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com (2026-10-14): “The island is included in the Marine Park, which means that jet skis and fishing are prohibited. Access to Pinel by boat is tricky and it is a must to use the passage between Green Cay and Pinel.”

Hazards and warnings

Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin: The Green Cay mooring area off Orient Bay becomes untenable in a northerly swell. The approach to Pinel is tricky, so use the passage between Green Cay and Pinel.

Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin · Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin ▾
reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com (2026-10-14): “The mooring zone is within the Natural reserve but becomes untenable when there are swells from the north.”
reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com (2026-10-14): “Access to Pinel by boat is tricky and it is a must to use the passage between Green Cay and Pinel.”

On the radio

The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) covers the waters of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius; search and rescue is coordinated 24/7 by its Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Curaçao.

Government of Sint Maarten · Government of Sint Maarten ▾
sintmaartengov.org (2026-10-14): “Therefore the DCCG provides services in the territorial waters around the countries Aruba, Curacao & Sint Maarten and the municipalities Bonaire, Saba & Sint Eustatius as well as in the adjacent zones and high seas of the Caribbean Sea.”
sintmaartengov.org (2026-10-14): “The JRCC is located on Curacao and delivers 24/7 coordination capability.”

Charter bases in Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin

Before you sail

All rescue numbers for Sint Maarten Print an emergency card Person overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose powerThunderstorms, lightning and squalls on the water: what to doRan aground? What to do

Frequently asked

When is the best time to sail in Sint Maarten, and when is storm season?

The Meteorological Department St. Maarten gives the Atlantic hurricane season as 1 June – 30 November.

What is the emergency number at sea in Sint Maarten?

Call Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (MOC) on +599 9 463 7700. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

Other charter countries

CroatiaGreeceTürkiyeItalySpainFranceMaltaPortugalBritish Virgin IslandsSaint-MartinSt Vincent & the GrenadinesGrenadaSt LuciaMartiniqueGuadeloupeBahamasThailandMalaysiaSeychellesFrench PolynesiaNew CaledoniaFijiSwedenNorwayDenmark

Every line above is a plain-English summary of an official source — open “▾” for the exact wording. Rules change: confirm with your charter company and the local authority.