Ocean Cay

Ocean Cay
Ocean Cay overview from the south, Lighthouse Bay in view (March 2024).
Ocean Cay is located in Bahamas
Ocean Cay
Ocean Cay
The location of Ocean Cay within the Bahamas
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates25°25′15″N 79°12′20″W / 25.4209°N 79.2055°W / 25.4209; -79.2055
TypeCay
ArchipelagoLucayan Archipelago
Area0.42 km2 (0.16 sq mi)
Administration
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)
ISO codeBS-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 oolitic 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]

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]

Gallery of Ocean Cay
  • View from a cruise ship overlooking the island with the marina to the right.
    View from a cruise ship overlooking the island with the marina to the right.
  • Man-made lagoon in the center of the island.
    Man-made lagoon in the center of the island.
  • The lighthouse is open to visitors on the island, and LED lights are integrated throughout the structure for visual light shows.
    The lighthouse is open to visitors on the island, and LED lights are integrated throughout the structure for visual light shows.
  • Small decorated wooden boat
    Small decorated wooden boat

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. ^ a b 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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