A World-Leading Cruise Destination The developmenT of the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities is overseen by the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies (SMHG), a governmentowned consortium of 13 companies responsible for part of the maritime operations of the country.
The operations of the harbour group can be neatly summarized by what it calls the “four pillars”: cruise, cargo, yachting and real estate. SMHG operates and has responsibility for the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility at Point Blanche, the Harbour Pointe Village, the Captain Hodge Pier in Philipsburg, the fuel station at Great Bay and the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority, which is responsible for the Simpson Bay Bridge.
T h e F C C A C r u i s e C o n F e r e n C e & T r A d e s h ow
SMHG employs 65 people in 11 departments: accounting, human resources, executive, clearance, maintenance, information technology, safety & security, maritime, terminal & cargo, commercial and operations.
SMHG has maintained St. Maarten’s competitive edge in the northeast Caribbean through constant research and strategic planning, as well as through partnerships and collaborations with leading industry players. These associations have led to dynamic growth in all sectors. Over the past decade, SMHG has invested more than $100 million into infrastructure and equipment, and the focus for the future is on investing in personnel and processes to continue to improve efficiency. In the same time frame, the group has been transformed into a much more commercially oriented operation, including
a refinancing package of $150 million by the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten. At the same time, SMHG has a strong corporate social responsibility program. This includes investing in the destination by rejuvenating parts of Philipsburg and giving priority to environmental concerns. A milestone was reached in 2012 when 1.7 million cruise passengers were received— and even higher numbers are forecast for the years ahead. This success is not so much an accident of location (although that helps), but more the result of a systematic approach and good customer focus by the St. Maarten Harbour Group, which is keen to provide the best facilities in the industry. This is one of the benefits of holding longterm agreements with the major cruise lines. In 2007, with one berth capable of accommodating four cruise ships simultaneously already in operation, the harbour group took the port to the next level and built a second cruise pier. St. Maarten is now one of the few
St. Maarten First to Handle New Genesis-Class Vessels
St. Maarten was one of the first ports in the region to be able to handle the new Genesis Class cruise ships, the largest in the world. It is also attracting a growing number of shipping lines looking for a transshipment sub-hub they can rely on. St. Maarten’s duty-free status has always been a marketing advantage for visitors and shippers alike, but SMHG wants to take things to the next level. Never content to rest on its laurels, it is always seeking new opportunities to deliver a wider range of quality services to its partners. In order to achieve this, the harbour group keeps in close contact with cruise lines, shipping lines and other industry players to keep informed about what they need and when they will need it. By staying ahead of the game, SMHG is always in a good position to accommodate new vessels and customers.
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SMHG has diversified its activities into real estate ownership and port consultancy, as well as owning and operating the port’s two mobile harbour cranes.
In addition, environmental responsibility and green issues are a priority for the harbour group, with a number of innovative initiatives, including wind and solar power systems within the port. SMHG also plays a leading role in the wider community, both in terms of beautification of the island, which ultimately attracts more cruise ships, and in various social development programs. Putting something back is a key part of SMHG’s business.
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