Page 6 - AHATA

a7
local Monday 21 october 2024
Don’t forget to visit Aruba’s famous Red Anchor

At the south east coast of anchor, which one do you visionary and had dreams
the island, standing alone think it was? (Unfortunate- for developing the San
on a windswept and bar- ly the mystery has never Nicolas area, told these
ren land stands a popular been solved, so your imagi- gentlemen that he would
Aruba landmark – a large nation can pick which one like to come up with some-
anchor. It overlooks the sea you think it might be!) thing innovative for the San
just beyond, watching over Nicolas area to draw tour-
the shipping lanes. It stands Story 1: ism to the area.
there in memory and in hon- “According to Mr. Man-
or of all seamen who have uel M. Curiel, an ex-Lago The “anchor”, which at that
lost their life at sea. Tug Captain, a fully laden time was being stored at
VLCC (Very Large Crude the Oranjestad harbor, was
Where to Find the Anchor? Carrier) was seeking a suggested as an option. The Red Anchor situated at the entrance of former Lago
The anchor is a “must see” mooring at the 15-mile an- Charlie liked the idea! He Colony in San Nicolas
landmark when you visit chorage, known as Bara, then contacted the Presi-
Aruba. It is among the most on the southern part of the dent of Lago for permission requested assistance from portant part of the island of
photographed historical island. This is the usual shal- to acquire the anchor. He the management of Vale- Aruba.
landmarks for the island. low mooring location for was granted permission ro Aruba Refinery to help
You want to make sure you ships awaiting orders, etc. and the anchor was then maintain the monument. The Best Time to Visit
add this stop on your itiner- The weather was rough relocated to its present lo- The Valero Aruba Refinery, When your planning your
ary when your visiting the with strong current. The cation and dedicated “To graciously sandblasted visit to the south end of the
south coast of Aruba. The normal procedure is that All Seamen” on the occa- and painted the anchor island, you will want to in-
bright red anchor against they would walk out three sion of the closing of the and poured a concrete clude in your itinerary the
the backdrop of the deep shackles (about 90 feet) Lago Oil Refinery on March pad around it. On April 17, many things to see and
blue Caribbean sea and until the anchor touches 31, 1985. 2005, the anchor monu- do there. The anchor will
the azure blue skies, make the bottom while the chain ment was rededicated “To be just one of these stops,
a great backdrop for your must rest on the bottom. Through the Years All Seamen” in a formal (keep an eye out for our
vacation pictures. Subsequently, they will Through the years the An- ceremony in memory of future editions, we publish
walk out some extra shack- chor was slowly weather- Charles Brouns Jr. our recommendations!).
The anchor is located at les and when the ship starts ing from the wind and salt. With that being said, I have
the entrance to Gate 6 to to swing or lean on one As time passed, sadly the Today, the anchor stands to say, if you enjoy catch-
the former Lago Colony. It side, the anchor is properly origin and purpose of the both as memorial to all ing a sunrise, the anchor is
is on the outskirts of Seroe set. Because of the rough anchor slowly faded away seaman who have lost their one of the best places on
Colorado, on the south weather, unfortunately from people’s memories. lives at sea, but also as a the island to catch the sun-
east point of the island at they did not get the time to silent reminder that Seroe rise. But in reality, anytime
the “T” junction to Baby walk out the extra tackles After Charles Brouns Jr died Colorado is part of San is a good time to visit, de-
Beach. and because of the ten- on September 15, 2004, his Nicolas and that San Nico- pending on your personal
Depending on where you sion exerted on the winch, friend Mr. Sam Speziale, las is still a vibrant and im- scheduleq
are staying on the island, it broke, and they lost the
follow the signs that in- anchor and its chain.“
dicate the way to Baby
Beach. Once you reach Story 2:
the T-junction, it will be right “Mr. Curiel also said that
in front of you. at one time a small tanker
with a Korean crew, while
About the Anchor lifting their anchor also lift-
Size ed another anchor near
It will be hard to miss the the inner harbor. When the
anchor, it’s huge! The an- ship asked for assistance,
chor that weighs 21,772 ki- he went with his tugboat
los, is approximately 10 feet along with a barge, to help.
6 inches wide and 15 feet, But eventually they had to
6 inches tall. cut the chain and let the
On the anchor there are anchor go to the bottom
some numbers. The 4112 because they could not
and 4115, which are be- untangle them. ”
lieved to be the serial num-
bers that refer to the “fluke” How Did The Anchor Be-
or horizontal and vertical come a Landmark?
parts of the anchor, re- Sometime between 1980
spectively. The number and 1985, three gentlemen
21772K refers to the weight (Mr. Wim Martinus – the
of the anchor in kilos. Harbormaster of Aruba; Mr.
This type of anchor was August Genser – the ex-
manufactured by Hoesch Division Superintendent of
Dortmund Horde, at a Lago’s Laboratory; and Mr.
foundry located in Germa- Willie Davis – Owner of Filtec
ny. at Zeewijk in San Nicolas),
were having a conversa-
Where did the Anchor tion with Mr. Charlie Brouns
Come From? Jr. at his famous Charlie’s
There are a number of sto- Bar and Restaurant in San
ries as to the origins of the Nicolas. Charlie, who was a