That Port St. Maarten completed the successful provisioning of one of five cruise ships in port on November 15 (see related story) is most encouraging. Despite concern about its finances recently expressed by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT and having to deal with several legal issues of varying nature, the government-owned harbour company, which suffered physical damage as well as significant loss of business due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year, saw this important part of the local tourism economy bounce back in an impressive manner.
Making better use of the presence of these vessels certainly seems like a worthwhile endeavour. Being an attractive destination for passengers is the main thing, but service to the shipping lines that bring them can be a major bonus.
During last month’s presentation in Parliament, EnviroPower Renewable Inc suggested its proposed waste-to-energy plant at the troubled Philipsburg landfill could perhaps deliver electricity against a lower price than the US $0.25 per kilowatt hour being asked based on a 30-year contract with the Dutch side’s utilities provider GEBE if, for example, garbage from cruise ships were added. Nature lovers will probably frown at the very idea, but – after all – the Florida-based company claims it’s “cleaner than the cleanest natural gas plant” and “cleaner than a diesel truck driving by your house.”
At any rate, in general such possibilities to get more of the cruise business should at least be explored along with home-porting and others. It must be said, logistics and particularly traffic are probably a limiting factor when it comes to moving over land.
Nevertheless, these kinds of valuable initiatives deserve support. Although opportunity may indeed come knocking, it is most often created.
