Neighborhood Information

Grand Bahama, situated just 89km (55 miles) off Florida's Palm Beach, is the fourth largest island in the Bahamas. The twin cities of Freeport and Lucaya are the main centers; the rest of the island remains relatively untouched, with lots of small fishing villages (some of which are more than 100 years old).

Freeport was built in the 1960s with the aim of attracting visitors to the area. One of the city's main attractions is the International Bazaar, It boasts 4 hectares (10 acres) of shops and restaurants, lined by cobblestone lanes. An 11m (35ft) torii arch marks the entrance; this red gate is a traditional symbol of welcome in Japan. The complex houses more than 100 shops, and restaurants representing over 25 countries. Goods on sale include South American silver and emeralds, French perfume, Spanish leather, brass articles from India, Chinese jade, African carvings, clothes tailored in Hong Kong, Thai silk, Irish linen, English china and Turkish caftans.

The Hydroflora Gardens offers many interesting plant-related facts to the accompaniment of classical music. The gardens were developed on the concept of hydroponics: plant cultivation without soil. The gardens include a number of medicinal plants; the guide will tell you about their significance in Bahamian history and culture. When in season, mangoes and guavas can be sampled straight from the trees.

The Perfume Factory is housed in an 18th-century pink-and-white mansion, the interior of which is reminiscent of a tastefully decorated drawing room. This is the headquarters of Fragrance of the Bahamas, a company which produces perfumes, colognes and lotions with the scents of jasmine, cinnamon, gardenia, spice and ginger. Visitors are invited to blend their own mixtures in the laboratory, using about 30 different scents. Once you have completed your creation, it is bottled and named: your own personalized perfume.

The impressive Supreme Court Building was completed in 1994 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the island. The design comprises pink stucco, white trim and green shutters, colonial architecture more commonly found in Nassau than in Freeport.

It is difficult to distinguish where Freeport ends and Lucaya begins. The latter city, which was developed as the island's resort center, is packed with large hotels and a shopping area.

Sanctuary Bay is the world's largest dolphin facility. A ferry will take you from Port Lucaya into the bay where you can watch a pod of Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins. It is even possible to stand in the water on a submerged deck and let the dolphins touch you.

Port Lucaya Marketplace is the town's main shopping complex, comprising approximately 100 establishments. Here you will find many shops selling clothes, crystal, china, watches, jewelry and perfumes, and lots of small wooden stalls offering refreshing beverages. Local artists exhibit their works here, and you can also watch woodcarvers at work. At the center of the marketplace is Count Basie Square, named after the town's king of jazz; the bougainvillea-covered bandstand hosts performances by live bands and gospel singers.

UNEXSO, the Underwater Explorers Society, is recognized as one of the world's best diving facilities. The school's facilities include a recompression/decompression chamber, and a training tank which will allow you to dive to 5.5m (18ft). If you prefer to keep your feet dry, take a trip through the Museum of Underwater Exploration.

One of the most popular dive sites is found at nearby Treasure reef; during the 1960s, Spanish treasure worth more than BSD2 million was salvaged here.

The Bahamas National Trust Rand Nature Center holds 130 native plant species, including 20 species of wild orchids. One of these is the vanilla correlli, which does not grow anywhere else in the world. Other attractions include the large number of flamingos which roam the area, and a reconstruction of a Lucayan village.

Garden of the Groves was named after the founder of Freeport, Wallace Groves, and his wife, Georgette. This botanical paradise was built in 1973 at a cost of $3.5 million. About 10,000 varieties of Bahamian flora (all clearly labeled) can be seen in the garden. The garden is divided into different sections including a rose garden and hibiscus garden, and plenty of water features: fountains, waterfalls and streams.

The Lucayan National Park is named after the Lucayans, the original inhabitants of these islands. Along this 16-hectare (40-acre) stretch of shoreline, you will find examples of the island's five ecosystems, including a natural forest of wild tamarind and gumbo-limbo trees criss-crossed with hiking trails and elevated walkways. The park has one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world, covering more than 11km (7 miles). Some of these caves have revealed interesting details about the people who lived in the area before Columbus's arrival. Other attractions include an observation platform, a mangrove swamp, pools containing rare marine life, Ben's Cave, Burial Mound Cave and Gold Rock Beach.

Hutchison Whampoa Limited the same Chinese company that recently took operational control of the Panama Canal is currently completing construction of the largest container port in the world in Freeport, Bahamas. In addition to the container port, Hutchinson has other investments on the island including a 370 acre resort in Lucayan that encompasses a 49 acre beach front site. Signifcant construction and development is underway on these resort investments.

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, has natural advantages of location being just 65 miles off the coast of Florida, and deep water, being one of the deepest harbors in the region. Grand Bahama Island is only one of 700 Islands of The Bahamas. Freeport sits in the center of a 230 acre bonded free trade zone.

Freeport Container Port is strategically located to serve as a major world container transshipment hub between the Eastern Gulf coasts of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, South America and trade lanes to European, Mediterranean, Far Eastern and Asian destinations. The Container Port offers a cost effective, flexible solution for the main carrier's regional transshipment requirements, combining state-of-the art terminal facilities with significant expansion potential. Freeport Container Port strives to maintain a dedicated transshipment hub with an efficient, experienced and motivated team of professionals, giving the same customer experience which is expected at each of HPH's 17 ports located around the world.

Freeport Container Port is a privately owned and operated port, in a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and The Grand Bahama Development Company, part of The Grand Bahama Port Authority Group of Companies.

Phase I, of the container transshipment terminal was officially opened July, 1997. Since becoming fully operational in August of last year, volumes have grown sharply so that already over 90% of the capacity is being utilized. The container yard has a stacking area of 23 hectares with 10,000 TEU's and 150 reefer points. The annual throughput capacity is 560,000 TEUs and the terminal throughput is made up of 95% transshipment traffic. The terminal consists of four super-post panamax gantry ship to shore cranes and a fleet of 10 Sisu Valmet straddle carriers.

FCP has 2 berths of 548 m. (1,800 ft) has deep water depth of 15.5m alongside, 14.33m approach, and only 45 minutes from pilot boarding to ship berthing.

Phase II, consists of an additional 14 hectares of land with 1 berth of 366m. (1,200 ft.), 3 super-post Panamax gantry ship to shore cranes and 12 straddle carriers. An annual throughput capacity of 390,000 TEUs.

The Phase II expansion facility is comprised Pentax of a total of 37 hectares, three berths 914m. (3,000 ft), seven Super-Post Panamax Quay Cranes and a fleet of 22 Straddle carriers. At this time, the capacity of the terminal has increased to 950,000 TEU per annum.

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