Port-au-Prince Bay is a bay on the Gulf of Gonâve that forms part of the central coastline of the Republic of Haiti.
The bay extends from the tip of Trou Fouban, Cabaret on the northwest (18° 51'33"N, 72° 36'38"W) to Ca Ira, Léogâne on the southwest (18° 31'27"N, 72° 39'05"W), a width of about 40 km (25 miles). Its northern and southern shores incline toward each other, forming the entrance to the bay, and the depth from the base is 50 km (30 miles). The easternmost point of the bay is at the city of Port-au-Prince.
The Harbor[]
A series of hills encircle the town, their slopes descending towards it, where numerous residences are visible, providing protection to the port from hurricanes. Vessels are able to find secure anchorage in this location. The port comprises two harbors: the smaller harbor, known as the port proper, is distinct from the larger harbor that stretches towards the open sea, separated by a line of coral rocks that rise above the water's surface, perpetually topped with foam. This line of rocks runs from south to north, with only a narrow passage allowing merchant ships to access the larger harbor, where naval vessels are anchored.
Fort Ilet in the middle of the waves, historically safeguarded the entrance to the harbor. It served as a port police force. An important establishment for the repair of ships and their machinery was built there.
The port of Prince was opened to foreign trade on April 21, 1807. A wharf is absolutely necessary for a city like Port-au-Prince.
The Pelican Islands[]
Three small islands situated in the bay of Port au Prince have reportedly subsided and vanished beneath the waves, as announced by the newspaper Le Nouvelliste on August 2, 1917. This development posed a significant risk to local navigation, necessitating the precise marking of the locations of these submerged islets to prevent small vessels from running into them. There have already been incidents where boats arriving from Arcahaie encountering the shallow areas and sustaining damage. The subsidence of these islets was attributed to deforestation and excessive sand extraction, exacerbated by recent seismic activity. On August 5, Lieutenant Ed Brown of the Haitian Coast Guard received directives from the head of the American occupation to investigate the disappearance of these three small islands that constituted the Pelican banks. The northeast winds and strong currents had eroded the tops of these islands, which were visible at low tide. To enhance safety, Lieutenant Brown positioned a floating buoy marked with a red flag at 24 feet (7 meters) above sea level at the extreme northeastern point of the banks, while plans were made to establish a lighthouse at the southwestern point to avert nighttime navigation hazards. These banks extend one mile from the southwest to the northeast.
Neighboring regions[]
| Further Northwest 6e Petite-Anse Petite Gonâve Island |
Further Northeast Simple Plaisir Island | |
Port-au-Prince Bay |
Further East Downtown | |
|---|---|---|
| 〰️South〰️
Canal de La Gonâve |
Further Southeast Ville de Léogane |
Fort Îlet[]
Fort Îlet once occupied a small coastal parcel shaded by coconut palms and scattered fruit trees, positioned just offshore in the inner harbor of Port-au-Prince. By the late nineteenth century, the fort had long been disarmed and repurposed: it served as a coal depot for both Haitian naval vessels and the steamers of the “fast line.” Mr. B. Rivière, the concessionaire operating that line, had installed a forge and a small repair shop on the site. Although he later sold the installation to the State, Rivière continued to enjoy certain privileges tied to the property.
A brief note published in Le Courrier d’Haïti on November 24, 1887, went so far as to suggest that a small café or restaurant on the fort’s shaded grounds could transform the islet into a charming promenade for residents strolling along the harbor.
Approaching the port required care: vessels had to pass at least 50 fathoms south of Fort Îlet to avoid the reefs that fringed the entrance.
A major improvement came on May 15, 1888, when a new lighthouse was installed atop the round iron tower on the islet. Painted white and equipped with a 5th-order apparatus showing a fixed green light, the beacon operated nightly and significantly aided navigation into the bay. According to the Bureau des Longitudes (Directory, 1888), its position was:
Latitude: 18° 33' 54" N
Longitude: 74° 42' 16" W
The light stood 9.50 meters (31 ft) above the crest of the fort and 14 meters (46 ft) above high tide, with an average visibility of 18 km (11 miles).
Fort Îlet also figures in revolutionary-era military history. On January 2, 1794, Sonthonax placed the post under the command of Captain Adelou to defend the harbor against Commodore Ford
. When the English commander returned on May 31, Fort Îlet successfully repelled an approaching parliamentary vessel.