The Tribune

Resorts World Bimini yesterday said many of the island’s businesses had suffered a “sharp decline in revenue” after rough seas forced a temporary suspension of its Miami SuperFast service.

The cruise ship has brought over 40,000 visitors to the island in its first three months of operation, but service was halted on October 24 due to rough seas.

The developers are now arguing that this shows why their proposed artificial cruise ship terminal/island and jetty are so badly needed.

While the SuperFast easily maneoveres through the Gulf Stream, Resorts World said the transfer of passengers from the ship to the island via catamaran is impossible in rough seas. The pier would eliminate the need for the catamarans, which could then be deployed as touring craft.

“This is the perfect example of why the pier is such an important component in our overall plan,” says Resorts World Bimini (RWB) president, Dana Leibovitz. “The pier would eliminate the practice of ferrying passengers to the island. Until it is complete, turbulent water conditions will continue to be a factor.”

Resorts World Bimini has maintained that the pier is central to the success of its development and the island as a whole, a position reinforced by the impact the service’s halt has had on the island’s business community.

Craft vendor Carmen Dames said the absence of the ship for several days reminded her of the old Bahamian adage – you don’t miss the water until the well runs dry.

“This well has run dry and we really miss that ship.” she said. “The craft market has been closing early every day because there is nothing happening here.”

Ms Dames said that while Biminites were accustomed to this being a slow period, the ship service has got them used to expecting more.

“With that ship coming in, we have something to look forward to, but now there’s nothing to look forward to. We really need that ship to come back,” she added.

Bimini Undersea tour guide Christian Small echoed her sentiments.

“It has been horrible since the ship has stopped coming and our business has been dramatically impacted,” he said.

“It is usually like this in the winter, and the SuperFast has really helped to keep businesses open at this time of the year. I really hope they come back soon.”

The pier will significantly cut down the length of time it takes to get visitors to shore. This would translate into more time on the island for day trippers and more revenue for the island’s business community.

“The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is our top priority,” said Mr Leibovitz.

“It is difficult and potentially dangerous to transport visitors via catamaran during swells of more than three feet. In the past several days due to very high swells it has been impossible to transfer.”

However, the situation has also highlighted a point made to Tribune Business earlier this week by environmental attorney, Romauld Ferreira.

He questioned whether the SuperFast’s projected passenger numbers had factored in the impact of bad weather and interruptions to its service between Miami and Bimini.

And Mr Ferreira also questioned whether any analysis had been done on the prevalence of high wind speeds, which the Resorts World Bimini Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) suggested might impede the cruise ship’s ability to dock at the proposed Bimini terminal.