The St. Martin fleet fully affected
Many professionals and boaters had their boats on the island of Saint-Martin during the hurricane's passage. If it has been easy to assess the situation of rental boats, the difficulty lies in the private individuals. " Some boats are registered in Guadeloupe and not in Saint-Martin", explains Bulent Gulay, Head of Metimer, the association of sea professionals in Saint-Martin.
In total, and after expertise with shipyards and experts, 1?200 boats were victims of the IRMA cyclone, both on the Dutch and French sides of the island.
"There hasn't been a single unscathed boat, whether it's major damage, dismasting or gelcoat scratches." bullent explains. And only half of them are officially listed," We have 650 known insurance files." adds Bullent "Today, it is difficult to say how many boats have been repaired or removed. It depends on the experts and some boats have already been taken by barge to France" explains Bullent.
The majority of the boats affected are motorboats - an activity more practised in Saint-Martin than sailing - and most people lived on board.
On the island, there are 4 construction sites, 3 of which are on the Dutch side, and the teams are insufficient to carry out the work. Here, no construction sites, but refurbishment, maintenance, maintenance or repair. There are still "carcasses" of boats on land, as well as at sea, even if the largest one has been removed, and the nautical industry is now working on how to deconstruct boats.
The charter companies still present
If Saint-Martin had 14 marinas - 4 on the French side - there is only one functional one left today: Fort-Louis in Marigot, the French capital of the island. It was here that the charter bases were repatriated, starting with the Sunsail/The Moorings company, formerly based in Oyster Pond, on the east coast, on the border with the Netherlands.
"The Sunsail/The Moorings company, which is known and established all over the world, was based in Oyster Pond, a marina fully affected by IRMA. And despite the total loss of the fleet, the company's management did not leave Sint Maarten. She continues to believe in our destination and knows very well that we have an excellent image with boaters in North America and increasingly in Europe explains Alexina Paya, from Metimer.
The island had 175 charter boats, divided between different companies: Sunsail, The Moorings, Dream Yacht Charter and Vents de Mer. " In Saint-Martin, we have gone from 40 boats before Irma to 15 at present, which is enough for the current demand" explained Josie Tucci, Vice President of Sunsail-The Moorings at BoatIndustry .
The main landlord in the area quickly had the staff reworked, but the marinas were destroyed and no one was able to give a reopening date. Although charter activity could not be resumed immediately, some boats were nevertheless able to leave at the end of 2017. Reservations were maintained and boaters who had booked trips agreed to postpone their trip or change their shipping area. Everyone played the game of solidarity. And the charters resumed at the end of 2018.
"One year later, we are ready and we are not afraid. The Moorings/Sunsail has invested financial resources in ordering new units. But they need space to welcome the fleet back. We are in a process of progress, but we must create marinas and therefore find places. It is a will on our part" concludes Bullent.
Re-opened marinas
If the French side of the island can only count on Fort-Louis for the moment, in Marigot, the Dutch side benefits from a very large marina, the Marina Isle de Sol, initially specialized in the reception of megayachts.
Work continues throughout the island to reopen ports and rebuild infrastructure. This is also the case in Orient Bay - the local Saint-Tropez dedicated to water sports - where restaurants and hotels have been rebuilt, as well as a sailing school.
"The problem lies in the infrastructure, for the installation of reception and technical bases and the lack of available berths. Among the biggest brands in the world, more than 100 boats are looking to find their place in our marinas and start their cruises immediately, because the demand is very dense, with a clientele with strong purchasing power.
Several local structures have disappeared in the boating industry. It is certain that as soon as the infrastructure is rehabilitated, these small businesses will be revived or new ones built. Our destination is in a state of reconstruction, but this time it will be rebuilt better and stronger to face increasingly powerful disasters and to better receive our visitors with standards of excellence in all areas" concludes Alexina.
