Page 9 - AHATA

Tuesday 31 January 2023 locAl
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Don’t forget to visit Aruba’s famous Red Anchor

At the south east coast indicate the way to Baby Lago Tug Captain, a eventually they had to location and dedicated
of the island, standing Beach. Once you reach fully laden VLCC (Very cut the chain and let the “To All Seamen” on the
alone on a windswept the T-junction, it will be Large Crude Carrier) anchor go to the bottom occasion of the closing
and barren land stands right in front of you. was seeking a mooring because they could not of the Lago Oil Refinery
a popular Aruba land- at the 15-mile anchor- untangle them. ” on March 31, 1985.
mark – a large anchor. About the Anchor age, known as Bara, on
It overlooks the sea just Size the southern part of the How Did The Anchor Be- Through the Years
beyond, watching over It will be hard to miss the island. This is the usual come a Landmark? Through the years the An-
the shipping lanes. It anchor, it’s huge! The an- shallow mooring location Sometime between 1980 chor was slowly weather-
stands there in memory chor that weighs 21,772 for ships awaiting orders, and 1985, three gentle- ing from the wind and
and in honor of all sea- kilos, is approximately 10 etc. The weather was men (Mr. Wim Martinus salt. As time passed, sad-
men who have lost their feet 6 inches wide and rough with strong cur- – the Harbormaster of ly the origin and purpose
life at sea. 15 feet, 6 inches tall. rent. The normal proce- Aruba; Mr. August Gens- of the anchor slowly fad-
On the anchor there are dure is that they would er – the ex-Division Su- ed away from people’s
Where to Find the An- some numbers. The 4112 walk out three shackles perintendent of Lago’s memories.
chor? and 4115, which are be- (about 90 feet) until the Laboratory; and Mr. Wil-
The anchor is a “must lieved to be the serial anchor touches the bot- lie Davis – Owner of Filtec After Charles Brouns Jr
see” landmark when you numbers that refer to the tom while the chain must at Zeewijk in San Nico- died on September 15,
visit Aruba. It is among “fluke” or horizontal and rest on the bottom. Sub- las), were having a con- 2004, his friend Mr. Sam
the most photographed vertical parts of the an- sequently, they will walk versation with Mr. Charlie Speziale, requested assis-
historical landmarks for chor, respectively. The out some extra shackles Brouns Jr. at his famous tance from the manage-
the island. You want to number 21772K refers to and when the ship starts Charlie’s Bar and Restau- ment of Valero Aruba
make sure you add this the weight of the anchor to swing or lean on one rant in San Nicolas. Char- Refinery to help main-
stop on your itinerary in kilos. side, the anchor is prop- lie, who was a visionary tain the monument. The
when your visiting the erly set. Because of the and had dreams for de- Valero Aruba Refinery,
south coast of Aruba. This type of anchor rough weather, unfor- veloping the San Nicolas graciously sandblasted
The bright red anchor was manufactured tunately they did not area, told these gentle- and painted the anchor
against the backdrop by Hoesch Dortmund get the time to walk out men that he would like and poured a concrete
of the deep blue Carib- Horde, at a foundry lo- the extra tackles and to come up with some- pad around it. On April
bean sea and the azure cated in Germany. because of the tension thing innovative for the 17, 2005, the anchor
blue skies, make a great exerted on the winch, it San Nicolas area to draw monument was rededi-
backdrop for your vaca- Where did the Anchor broke, and they lost the tourism to the area. cated “To All Seamen”
tion pictures. Come From? anchor and its chain.“ in a formal ceremony
There are a number of The “anchor”, which in memory of Charles
The anchor is located at stories as to the origins of Story 2: at that time was being Brouns Jr.
the entrance to Gate 6 the anchor, which one “Mr. Curiel also said that stored at the Oranjestad
to the former Lago Colo- do you think it was? (Un- at one time a small tank- harbor, was suggested Today, the anchor stands
ny. It is on the outskirts of fortunately the mystery er with a Korean crew, as an option. Charlie both as memorial to all
Seroe Colorado, on the has never been solved, while lifting their anchor liked the idea! He then seaman who have lost
south east point of the so your imagination can also lifted another an- contacted the President their lives at sea, but also
island at the “T” junction pick which one you think chor near the inner har- of Lago for permission to as a silent reminder that
to Baby Beach. it might be!) bor. When the ship asked acquire the anchor. He Seroe Colorado is part of
Depending on where Story 1: for assistance, he went was granted permission San Nicolas and that San
you are staying on the is- “According to Mr. Man- with his tugboat along and the anchor was then Nicolas is still a vibrant
land, follow the signs that uel M. Curiel, an ex- with a barge, to help. But relocated to its present and important part of
the island of Aruba.

The Best Time to Visit
When your planning your
visit to the south end of
the island, you will want
to include in your itiner-
ary the many things to
see and do there. The
anchor will be just one
of these stops, (keep an
eye out for our future edi-
tions, we publish our rec-
ommendations!).

With that being said, I
have to say, if you enjoy
catching a sunrise, the
anchor is one of the best
places on the island to
catch the sunrise. But in
reality, anytime is a good
time to visit, depend-
ing on your personal
schedule.q