Ocean Cay

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Ocean Cay
Ocean Cay overview from the south direction (March 12, 2024).jpg
Ocean Cay overview from the south, Lighthouse Bay in view (March 2024).
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Ocean Cay
The location of Ocean Cay within the Bahamas
Geography
Location Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates 25°25′15″N79°12′20″W / 25.4209°N 79.2055°W / 25.4209; -79.2055
Type Cay
Archipelago Lucayan Archipelago
Area0.42 km2 (0.16 sq mi)
Administration
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)
ISO code BS-BI

Ocean Cay is an island in the Bahamas located in the district of Bimini. It is located 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Bimini proper. Ocean Cay is an artificial island which was built by dredging in the late 1960s by Dillingham Construction of Hawaii [1] and was used to mine white Aragonite sand for diverse industrial purposes. [2] The cay has been redeveloped as a private island called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve for MSC Cruises. [3]

Contents

History

Ocean Cay is an island that was man-made and created originally for mining aragonite sand. The total size of the island is 42 hectares and the original owners also had dredged the area to allow for deep vessels to dock for the exportation of the sand. [4]

Restoration

When Dillingham Construction abandoned the island, the cay fell into a state of decay. In 2015, the executive chairman of MSC Cruise line, Pierfrancesco Vago, signed a 100-year lease agreement with the Bahamian government to redevelop the island into a new resort for the cruise line. [4] The cruise line planned to spend $200 million on the project. [5]

The restoration would involve removing all of the abandoned mining facilities and infrastructure. A 3-part documentary film series entitled Building Paradise Island by director James Redgate documented the cleanup of the island, the conservation leading to marine reserve status, and the building of a new resort from the ground up. [6]

Beaches

The island has eight beaches, including Lighthouse Bay, North Beach, South Beach, Bimini Beach, areas near the lagoon, and a beach reserved for employees. Each beach has at least one lifeguard on duty when the beach is open. [7]

Related Research Articles

This article talks about transportation in the Bahamas, a North American archipelagic state in the Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bimini</span> Third-Scheduled District in Bahamas

Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas and comprises a chain of islands located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) due east of Miami. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 210 km (130 mi) west-northwest of Nassau. The population is 2,417 as of the 2022 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abaco Islands</span> Group of islands in the Bahamas

The Abaco Islands lie in the north of The Bahamas, about 193 miles east of Miami, Florida. The main islands are Great Abaco and Little Abaco, which is just west of Great Abaco's northern tip. There are several smaller barrier cays, of which the northernmost are Walker's Cay and its sister island Grand Cay. To the south, the next inhabited islands are Spanish Cay and Green Turtle Cay, with its settlement of New Plymouth, Great Guana Cay, private Scotland Cay, Man-O-War Cay, and Elbow Cay, with its settlement of Hope Town. Southernmost are Tilloo Cay and Lubbers Quarters. Also of note off Abaco's western shore is Gorda Cay, now a Disney-owned island and cruise ship stop renamed Castaway Cay. Also in the vicinity is Moore's Island. On the Big Island of Abaco is Marsh Harbour, the Abacos' commercial hub and The Bahamas' third-largest city, plus the resort area of Treasure Cay. Both have airports. A few mainland settlements of significance are Coopers Town and Fox Town in the north and Cherokee and Sandy Point in the south. Administratively, the Abaco Islands constitute seven of the 31 Local Government Districts of The Bahamas: Grand Cay, North Abaco, Green Turtle Cay, Central Abaco, South Abaco, Moore's Island, and Hope Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private island</span> Island owned by a single private citizen or corporation

A private island is a disconnected body of land wholly owned by a private citizen or corporation. Although this exclusivity gives the owner substantial control over the property, private islands remain under the jurisdiction of national and sometimes local governments. Their size can vary widely, from that of a typical suburban yard to several hundred square kilometers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Cruise Line</span> Cruise line operation, subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Disney Cruise Line is a cruise line operation that is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The company was incorporated in 1996 as Magical Cruise Company Limited, through its first vessel Disney Magic, and is domiciled in London, England, with their operational headquarters located in Celebration, Florida. Disney Cruise Line operates five ships: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. Three ships will join the fleet in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The next ones are announced to be named Disney Treasure, Disney Adventure, and Disney Destiny. Disney Cruise Line owns Castaway Cay, a private island in the Bahamas designed as an exclusive port of call for Disney's ships. A second private destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, a 700-acre property on the southern end of Eleuthera, Bahamas opened on June 6, 2024. Disney Cruise Line operates two Disney Cruise Line Terminals in Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exuma</span> Place in Bahamas

Exuma is a district of The Bahamas, consisting of over 365 islands and cays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castaway Cay</span> Private island in the Bahamas

Disney's Castaway Cay, or simply Castaway Cay, is a private island in the Bahamas which serves as an exclusive port for the Disney Cruise Line ships. It is located near Great Abaco Island and was formerly known as Gorda Cay. In 1997, The Walt Disney Company purchased a 99-year land lease for the cay from the Bahamian government, giving the company substantial control over the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting Island State Park</span> Barrier island and state park in South Carolina, United States

Hunting Island is a 5,000-acre (20 km2) secluded semitropical barrier island located 15 miles (24 km) east of Beaufort, South Carolina, United States in between Harbor Island and Fripp Island. Since 1935, it has been classified as a state park. It is the most-visited state park facility in South Carolina and is a part of the ACE Basin estuarine reserve area. Known for its natural environment, the island remains one of the few remaining undeveloped Sea Islands in the Lowcountry. The park is known for its 19th century lighthouse which bears its name. The park's beach has been featured in several travel publications and was listed in 2013 as a Top 25 beach in the United States by TripAdvisor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MSC Cruises</span> Cruise line registered in Switzerland

MSC Cruises is a Swiss-Italian global cruise line based in Geneva, with operations offices in Naples, Genoa and Venice. It was founded in 1988 in Naples, Italy, as part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). In addition to being the world's largest privately held cruise company, employing about 23,500 people worldwide and with offices in 45 countries as of 2017, MSC Cruises is the third-largest cruise company in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Group, with a 10.2% share of all passengers carried in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Isaac Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

Great Isaac Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the small Bahamian island of Great Isaac Cay. Erected in 1859, it is located about 20 miles (32 km) NNE of the Bimini Islands, and accessible only by boat. The lighthouse stands about 151 feet tall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hope Town</span> Place in Abaco, The Bahamas

Hope Town is one of the districts of The Bahamas, on the Abaco islands as well as a small village on Elbow Cay, located in Abaco. The area had a population of 458 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CocoCay</span> Private Bahamian island used for tourism

CocoCay or Little Stirrup Cay, sometimes titled Perfect Day at CoCoCay is one of the Berry Islands, a collection of Bahamian cays and small islands located approximately 55 miles (89 km) north of Nassau. It is used for tourism by Royal Caribbean Group exclusively. Little Stirrup Cay is adjacent to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruises' private island since 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Stirrup Cay</span> Island in Bahamas

Great Stirrup Cay is a 268-acre (108 ha) island that is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the island from the Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and developed it into a private island for their cruise ship passengers. The northern part of the island has a sandy beach surrounded by rocks with snorkeling areas. The southern part features a helicopter airfield, a large area without vegetation, and numerous concrete blocks. These are all remnants of a previous U.S. military installation and satellite tracking station. The island's lighthouse was originally constructed in 1863 by the Imperial Lighthouse Service. Great Stirrup Cay is adjacent to Little Stirrup Cay, Royal Caribbean Cruises' private island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolphin Encounters</span> Dolphin facility

Dolphin Encounters is a natural seawater dolphin facility located on Blue Lagoon Island,, Nassau, Bahamas. The company started as a rescue facility in 1989. The beach scenes in the movie Splash were taped on Blue Lagoon Island and the facility houses Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. Dolphin Encounters is owned and operated by a local family. The facility has received a Cacique Award from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. In 2003, Dolphin Encounters and Project B.E.A.C.H. received the Cacique Award from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat Cays</span> Two islands in the Bahamas

The Cat Cays are two islands in the Bahamas, North Cat Cay and South Cat Cay, approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Bimini. North Cat Cay is a privately owned island and is run as a private members club by the Cat Cay Yacht Club. South Cat Cay is currently under development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the Bahamas</span> Overview of and topical guide to The Bahamas

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to The Bahamas:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of the Bahamas–related articles</span>

The following is an alphabetical list of topics related to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resorts World Bimini</span>

Resorts World Bimini Bahamas is a 750-acre (300 ha) Caribbean beachfront resort and casino located on North Bimini Island. Opened in 2013, the resort is operated by the Malaysia-based Genting Group. Their corporate office for the southeast USA is located in downtown Miami, Florida. The resort is located in Bimini, Bahamas, 42 miles east of Miami, Florida. Estimated cost to be built is US$220 Million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point</span> Private peninsula in the Bahamas

Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, or simply Lookout Cay, is a private peninsula in The Bahamas which serves as an exclusive port for the Disney Cruise Line ships. It is located in the south-eastern region of Bannerman Town, South Eleuthera. In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company purchased the peninsula from the Bahamian government, giving the company control over the area.

References

  1. ↑ "Ocean Cay". Islands by Design. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "MSC Cruises Breaks Ground On Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve". Marketwatch. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "Ocean Cay Enters Final Phase of Construction". Porthole Cruise. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 Gardner, Elliot. "Ocean Cay: The World's Biggest Private Cruise Resort Emerges". Ship Technology. Verdict Media Limited. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  5. ↑ Arlene Satchell, Arlene. "MSC Cruises plans $200 million private Bahamian island". Sun-Sentinel.com. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Redgate, James. "Building Paradise Island". IMDB. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Faust, Chris Gray. "Everything You Need to Know About Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises' Private Island". Cruise Critic. The Independent Traveler, Inc. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
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