Curacao Trading Company (King Ocean)
King Ocean's St. Maarten agent for weekly ocean freight from Miami.
Why Go
When you need to move cargo from the United States to St. Maarten, King Ocean is one of the most established names in Caribbean shipping — and Curacao Trading Company serves as their local agent and representative on the island. Weekly sailings from Miami provide a reliable pipeline for everything from personal household goods to commercial container loads, with customs clearance and delivery handled at the Pointe Blanche port end.
The Experience
Curacao Trading Company (SXM) NV operates from the St. Maarten Port Services Building on Ground Dove Road at Pointe Blanche, the island's primary cargo port area. As King Ocean's representative, the company channels one of the Caribbean's major shipping lines through a local office that understands St. Maarten's import regulations, customs procedures, and delivery logistics. The service handles both LCL (less-than-container-load) for smaller shipments and FCL (full-container-load) for larger volumes, along with vehicle shipping, refrigerated cargo, personal effects, and commercial goods. The weekly Miami sailing schedule provides consistency that businesses can plan around — a restaurant owner knows when their specialty ingredients will arrive, a retailer can time inventory orders to specific sailing dates, and residents shipping household goods from the US can track their shipment with reasonable precision. Consolidation services allow multiple smaller shipments to share container space, reducing per-item costs for individual shippers.
What to Try
LCL service suits individual shippers and small businesses who do not fill a full container. FCL is cost-effective for larger moves or commercial imports. Vehicle shipping follows a specific process — ask about documentation requirements before purchasing a vehicle stateside.
Insider Tip
Build a relationship with the local office for regular shipping needs. They can advise on optimal consolidation timing, customs documentation, and the seasonal volume fluctuations that affect delivery times. Pre-holiday periods (November-December) see higher volumes and potential delays.
The Practical Stuff
Located at Ground Dove Road #1, St. Maarten Port Services Building, Pointe Blanche. Premium pricing ($$$). Weekly sailings from Miami. Services: LCL/FCL, vehicle shipping, refrigerated cargo, customs clearance. Near St. Maarten Port Services and International Liquors & Tobacco Trading.
Pair It With
- St. Maarten Port Services — Port operations facility in the same Pointe Blanche complex
- Cavalier Logistics Guide — Alternative freight forwarder with Netherlands and Miami sailings