Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SHGC), would hereby like to extend his condolences on behalf of the Supervisory Board and Management of SHGC to the family of John Philip Frederick Craane Sr., effectively known as "Boechie," who passed away on Saturday.
The cruise terminal building at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility was dedicated to him after his years of service working in the maritime sector.
"He will be greatly missed as he was a man who dedicated himself to the maritime sector until he retired. The supervisory board and management deeply regret the passing of "Boechie" and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends," SHGC CEO Mark Mingo said on Tuesday.
"Boechie" spent most of his life working on and around boats. His love of boats was influenced by his father who was a well known boat builder on Bonaire.
As a young boy he worked with his father helping him build boats after school. As a young man he captained several of the boats that his father had built including the Endeavour and the Rainbow.
"Boechie" in 1954 was hired by the Federal Government and remained employed until an accident forced him to retire in 1987 at the age of 74.
For the 33-years he worked for the Government, he captained several boats such as the Blue Peter, MV Antilia and MV Hertha. In 1963 he became a pilot at the A.C. Wathey Pier and served in that position until 1978 when he was promoted to Harbour Master of St. Maarten and remained in that position until he retired.