The Jules Sedney Haven Terminal is being expanded at an accelerated pace in anticipation of the expected growth of the oil and gas sector. According to NV Havenbeheer Suriname, major shipping lines are anticipating an increase of as much as 300 percent in the volume of cargo to be handled, even before Suriname’s first offshore oil production begins.
According to Aisa Tjon-Akon, Infrastructure manager at Havenbeheer, that expectation makes expansion of the port necessary. Not only future oil and gas activities will require additional capacity, but existing import and export flows must also be able to continue without major disruptions.
“The major liners have indicated that, for the coming period, even before the first oil comes out of the ground, they already expect a 300 percent increase in the cargo to be handled,” Tjon-Akon said.
New quays and more than 7 hectares of additional storage
The first phase of the expansion consists of the construction of a new 140-metre quay. According to the current schedule, it must be completed in September 2027. A further expansion of 120 metres is then planned.
The storage area will also be significantly enlarged. An additional 7.1 hectares of land will become available, which must also be delivered in September 2027.
The expansion should enable Havenbeheer to serve both regular customers and companies becoming active within the oil and gas industry.
Suriname is located in the Guyana-Suriname Basin, where several international oil companies are active. According to Tjon-Akon, Surinamese port infrastructure must meet the safety and efficiency standards applied internationally by these companies.
Deeper quays, but shipping channel remains decisive
Havenbeheer is also carrying out dredging work along the quays. The aim is to achieve a depth of 7.5 metres there at low tide.
According to Tjon-Akon, further deepening only makes sense if the shipping channel is also made suitable for vessels with a greater draft. The Maritieme Autoriteit Suriname must therefore conduct a feasibility study.
Based on forecasts of the number of larger vessels that will call at Suriname in the future, it must be determined whether further deepening of the shipping channel is economically and technically feasible.
Digitalisation must reduce waiting times
In addition to physical expansion, Havenbeheer is focusing on digitalisation. Together with the Inter-American Development Bank, work is under way on a Port Community System. Through that system, Havenbeheer, Customs and terminal operators, among others, should be able to exchange information more effectively and process goods more quickly.
This should reduce waiting times for trucks and cargo.
A trucking centre and an appointment system for freight traffic must also prevent the expected growth from leading to major congestion around the port area.
The rehabilitation of the Van ’t Hogerhuysstraat and the bridge over the Saramaccakanaal are also mentioned as important components of the broader preparations for the expected economic growth.
Traffic pressure after 2028
According to Tjon-Akon, Havenbeheer cannot solve traffic problems outside its own premises on its own. This requires cooperation with the government and other relevant authorities.
In view of developments after 2028, an integrated traffic plan for Suriname will ultimately be necessary, she said.
Havenbeheer is meanwhile also seeking to increase knowledge within the maritime sector. In 2025, the Suriname Port Training Institute was established together with Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The institute provides training for Surinamese companies and participants from other CARICOM countries, in accordance with international standards.
With the investments, Havenbeheer is seeking to prevent the expected strong growth of the oil and gas sector from being held back by insufficient port, storage and transport capacity.
