Mega yacht brokerage firms, agents, boat captains and other stakeholders were very pleased to receive an update from the St. Maarten Marine community including the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority who for the first time – Lagoon Authority – showcased the maritime and yachting sector of the country at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida that took place from October 31 to November 4.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida is considered the "Yachting Capital of the World," and hosted the 54th Lauderdale International Boat Show. The show exhibited a range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts.
Lagoon Authority staff along with Port of St Maarten informed the yachting sector about the Causeway and how it will relieve traffic in the Simpson Bay area; the Causeway bridge and Simpson Bay Bridge opening time manual; also the removal of boulders and other potential obstacles from the channel at the Simpson Bay Bridge, which was all well received.
The Lagoon Authority has played a significant role in and around the Simpson Bay Lagoon with respect to upgrading and improving infrastructure and services. The authority continues to pay for the removal of garbage at the bridge that is dropped off by the various boats anchored or docked in the lagoon; moorings were installed for the safe transit of yachts and mega-yachts in and out of the lagoon; security cameras, sidewalks and streetlights were installed on both sides of the Simpson Bay Bridge to enhance safety and security of residents and tourists who patronage the various businesses located on the so-called Simpson Bay strip.
The Lagoon Authority invested in the extension of the bridge deck which brought more business into the Lagoon for the various marinas and by extension the entire marine sector and business community. If this wasn’t done, mega yachts such as Venus and Limitless would not have been able to dock at one of the marinas in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. Investments have been made in the interests of the country.
Lagoon Authority/Port of St. Maarten staff told by the boat show attendees that St. Maarten is a great destination if not the prime destination, and would like to see a boat show hosted by the destination in the future.
The Lagoon Authority management says the participation of the marine sector at the boat show was a plus and both organizations can build on future participation in the same show as both parties feel and agree that the collaboration will definitely be a plus as it will give a boost that is needed to gain an edge in this swift growing industry, an edge that would be welcomed by many attendees of the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.
A wide variety of boats and sea vessels were on display including runabouts, sport fishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bow riders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary super yachts.
The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) and its individual members and non-members took the opportunity after being invited by the Lagoon Authority to supply promotional materials of their marinas, services and products that were placed at the Port/SLAC financed St. Maarten Booth to promote the destination’s marine and yachting sector.
St. Maarten marine and yachting sector is responsible for 12.5 per cent of the national economy according to a 2008 study that was commissioned by SMMTA and carried out by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) of the former Netherlands Antilles.
Back in 2008, there were over 80 companies providing services to the marine sector and over the year 2007, the country’s marine sector produced over US$200 million (Naf.399 million), and representing 16.3 per cent of the overall production of the businesses on Sint Maarten. In terms of wages and the number of employees, 2,794 employees, 17.2 per cent of the total work force earned Naf.106.5 million.
Since the Harbor Group of Companies took over the Lagoon Authority in December 2009 from the Economic Development Corporation, the company now breaks-even from a financial perspective which is good for the shareholder representative, the Government. The company is not a burden to the tax payer.
The Lagoon Authority has been able to partner with the Nature Foundation and develop a relationship that looks at developing a sustainable environmental management plan for the lagoon since it’s a very important eco system for the country.
PHOTO CUTLINE: In photo stakeholders; James Roidis of Porto Cupecoy Yacht Club (standing 3rd from left), Lagoon Authority representative Bertrand Peters (standing 4th from left), Timia Jones, Harbour Representative Ichel Moeslikan (4th from right standing), Marina Fort Louis representative Herve Dorvil; Ear Wyatt of Sea Grapes (2nd from right), and David Antrabos of SOL (1st from left).