Archive For: Bahamas

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2. Cruisers can now comment directly from email. Once you subscribe to the group, please email info@explorercharts.com and request permission to post to Bahamas Chatter via email. Your forum membership will be changed to “author” status at which point you can post or comment directly by sending your message to chatter@explorercharts.com.

Thanks for your participation in this great group of cruisers willing and ready to share ideas and experiences!
Kate Fears

Posted: 26 Nov 2016 08:29 AM PST
In conducting the latest fuel and dockage survey, we found a new expense being charged by some marinas. Two of the marinas we contacted, Treasure Cay Marina and Valentines Marina, advised that their dockage rates were subject to an additional levy of 2% to go to the Association of Bahamas Marinas. At this time it is unknown if all of the 30 member marinas will levying this fee.

New Fuel and Dockage Survey, November 26, 2016
Posted: 26 Nov 2016 07:47 AM PST
Fuel prices were mixed, some up, some down. Some marinas are still repairing hurricane damge. The new monthly Explorer Fuel and Dockage survey is posted on our website www.explorercharts.com. Click on Fuel and Dockage prices in the menu on the left side of the home page.
As always, we appreciate the individual reports you send us of any changes in prices from the date of this survey. Send an email to monty@explorercharts.com for any new prices you find until the next survey.

Current status of Customs and Immigration on Andros
Posted: 26 Nov 2016 03:50 AM PST
Does anyone know if it is currently possible for a cruising boat to check into the Bahamas on Andros? If so, any recommendations as to where are appreciated.
Mark

State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley said the potential deal, as reported, could impact Florida’s commercial and sport-fishing industries.

“China, their interests in this, would get exclusive access to fisheries in Bahamian waters,” Wiley said. “A lot of people may not realize this, but the boundary between the United States waters and Bahamian waters is still in dispute. It’s still not been clarified, so that further makes this an issue. The government of the Bahamas hasn’t released details of the negotiations.

The Nassau Guardian newspaper has reported that the government of the Bahamas has given the green light to its embassy in Beijing to pursue agricultural and fishing partnerships with China. The proposal reportedly could bring $2.1 billion in cash, along with agricultural and farming equipment, into the Bahamian economy, over 10 years.

The proposal by the Bahamian government, according to the Guardian, states: “While realization of a reasonable return on an investment in agriculture is a relatively slow process, requiring substantial capitalization over many years, participating companies in the initiative will within months of commencement of operations realize positive cash flow from the sale of seafood.”

Under the reported terms of the deal, the government would lease to 100 companies — each jointly owned by Chinese and Bahamians shareholders — 10,000 acres in Andros Island, along with fishing licenses.

“It is anticipated that the agricultural products and the seafood will be used either for local consumption or will be exported to China or the U.S.A. for sale,” the proposal says. “The management of participating companies will resolve to do what is in their best interest.”

Commercial fishing for conch, lobster, snapper and grouper are mainstays of the Andros Island’s economy. However, the indication is that the Chinese firms want to target dolphin, kingfish, marlin, tuna and wahoo.

Wiley said the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has reached out to the government of the Bahamas for additional details.

“It’s something we really need to figure out what is going on. We really don’t understand it yet,” said Commissioner Robert Spottswood, the president of a Key West real-estate development company. “But the potential impact for us in the Keys, in Florida and for the U.S., of the Chinese government getting involved in fishing in the Bahamas could certainly affect the balance of what is going on in fisheries in South Florida.”

He explained that with the resort at Chub Cay now closed, persons who worked on the operational side were no longer on the job — unless they were able to work on construction and maintenance.

He described it as in fact “a double blow” for those who worked on Chub Cay, and came from Lowe Sound.

Minister Gibson led a small team to the island to view the damage and the work done by the property to address and rectify any issues. He said that it was his first visit to Chub Cay and he was very impressed by the property and the restoration efforts that are already full swing. Minister Gibson also related what he saw during the tour of the property.

“When you look at the homes that were impacted, obviously it is going to be a while before they get back to some sense of normalcy again…. Quite a number of the homes have some damage to them. The marina is closed right now, which is really preventing them from having their normal operations,” Minister Gibson related. “When you look around and see the kind of damage that they have, I think they estimate that they have four or five million dollars in total.”

Minister Gibson met a number of Bahamians who were working on the restoration and construction process, as well as being guided through work being done by a subcontractor, Jones Industrial Maintenance, by the company’s CEO Kristan Jones.

He noted that it appeared to him, the biggest challenge the property will have is getting the company that normally repairs the marina to schedule them in — considering that a number of marinas in The Bahamas and the Southeastern US seaboard where affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Minister Gibson also pointed out that a number of the homes were insured and that the adjustors had already viewed them. The ones that were not insured belonged to high-income owners who would probably address that issue personally, he noted.

When asked about government assistance being considered in the restoration effort, Minister Gibson quickly pointed out, “they are operating 100 percent independent of us.”

He added that some benefit has come to the employees with respect to restoration in that a number of high net worth persons, who own homes at Chub Cay, have already begun repairing accommodations of a number of the employees.

However, Minister Gibson’s thoughts were again on the residents of Lowe Sound, who cannot work on Chub Cay until the repairs and restorations are completed.

“Some of them are not able to work now because the resort is closed and, of course, for most them, they lost all of their belongings,” he said quietly.

We were unable to contact a number of marinas, probably due to the phone lines not yet being repaired, particularly in the Berrys and Grand Bahama. We would appreciate it if our subscribers send us any current information so that we can share it with the larger Bahamas Chatter group.
In our recent fuel survey, rates were in general up, rather than down, but not by much.

NEAR BAHAMAS

Bimini sources report that another cruise ship operation is coming to the island. Details are unconfirmed at this point.
Albany Marina on New Providence is closed for repairs and set to open November 1, 2016. There was a considerable amount of damage from the hurricane.

We were unable to contact the Berry Islands Club, Chub Cay Club, Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Man o War Marina, Port Lucaya, and Spanish Cay for an update on the hurricane. All other marinas in the area are open.

Brown’s Boat Basin had some damage to their docks but are open.

Great Harbour Cay Marina is open but the phones are not working yet. There are a lot of trees down over wires. Also Steve Johnson is the new manager there.

Knowles Marine Yacht Services with minimal damage. However, there is a boulder partially in the entrance channel. There is room to pass by. Hopefully, it will be removed soon.

Leeward Yacht Club is making renovations to their dock.

Nassau Harbour Club had some dock damage but they are open.

Old Bahama Bay is open and are taking relief supplies for the village of West End. No water, electricity or phone and they can’t take credit cards or pump fuel.

Palm Cay Marina has several channel markers missing. Although there was damage to the beach, the marina is fully operational.

EXUMAS

In Elizabeth Harbour, there were some boats that sank in the hurricane holes, but they have been pulled up. The reported fire at Exuma Market was minor and the damage has been repaired.

Exuma Yacht Club had extensive damage to the piers. They can accommodate only about three boats, yet they are able to fuel boats.

We were unable to contact Farmers Cay Yacht Club.

Highbourne Cay Marina is open with no damage.

FAR BAHAMAS

Davis Harbour Marina had some damage and they are currently dredging the channel. They are open.

No damage at Flying Fish Marina.

Long Island Petroleum fuel dock had no damage, but the fuel pump had to be moved to land and has not been relocated at the dock. They can pump fuel from the truck.

We were unable to contact Harbour Island Marina and Stella Maris Marina. All other marinas and fuel services in this area are open with no damage.

ABM members were reporting full restoration of power and water to their docks and resorts within a day or two of the hurricane, the small eye of which traveled over the Exumas, Nassau, Chub Cay and Grand Bahama Island. All the Exuma marinas including Highbourne Cay and The Marina at Emerald Bay (Sandals) reported no or slight damage with Safe Harbour at Cave Cay soon to repair two damaged docks and fully operational with other docks.

In Nassau and Paradise Island, all marinas escaped unscathed. In the harbour, Bay Street Marina and Nassau Yacht Haven reported no damage and are fully functional. Palm Cay on the southeast coast of New Providence only had a couple of channel markers misplaced while marinas at Lyford Cay and Albany were undamaged. Albany chose to close temporarily to cleanup foliage and make the luxury estate pristine.

In Grand Bahama, Old Bahama Bay & Yacht Harbour is open for business, waiting to be reconnected with power soon. Bradford Marine in Freeport Harbour is up and running with restored power for its dry dock, travel lift and all its repair services. Port Lucaya Marina is open for yachts, having reported a few vessels underwater while Grand Bahama Yacht Club’s clubhouse and docks are fine. On Friday October 21, power and internet returned to Port Lucaya Marina and the power company expects Grand Bahama Yacht Club to have power by Saturday. (From an article in thebahamasweekly.com)  

West End, Grand Bahama Island. The Old Bahama Bay Resort & Yacht Harbour, located at West End, Grand Bahama Island reports minimal damage from Hurricane Matthew and plans to reopen as soon as island power and water is restored. The marina and the adjacent West End Airport have already reopened, and are being used to bring in relief supplies to the resort and adjacent West End Villagers.

“Old Bahama Bay was fortunate that no major damage was inflicted by wind, rain, and storm surge” said John MacDonald, President of Island Ventures Resort & Club – the company owned by condo-hotel owners that operates the Resort. We’ll very soon be again welcoming resort hotel and marina guests.”

“The West End Village and the balance of Grand Bahama were not so fortunate, suffering significant structural damage to homes and businesses. Power lines are down nearly everywhere, and families are struggling to cope with this devastation,” said James Culmer, Resort General Manager. Fortunately there were no serious injuries and no fatalities. “We have organized an armada of boats and planes that are ferrying relief supplies daily.” We have also set-up two relief funds for cash donations.”

“Old Bahama Bay property owners and past guests are responding with high levels of generosity” said Al Ten Broek, Business Manager for the company. “We look forward to that continuing in much the same way it did twelve years ago when Hurricane Francis, Jeanne, and Wilma struck the island.” The Bahamian people are very resilient, are determined to see this through, and once again be host to our many loyal customers.”

Food rations, water, dry goods, paper goods, dog and cat food, batteries, generators and other relief items can be delivered to three drop-off locations for delivery to the island.

Four Fish Inn & Marina
2225 N.E. Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957
(t) 772-334-0936

Pompano Beach Marine Center
Attn: John or Jill
Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062
(t) 954-946-1450

Environmental Management Solutions
7705 Progress Circle, Melbourne, Florida 32904
(t) 800-510-8812

Please coordinate any supply contributions with Beth Watson at 888-983-6188 or 954-763-6382.

Cash donations can be sent to:

The “Go Fund Me” account established by Old Bahama Bay at https://www.gofundme.com/OldBahamaBay
The Kohn Foundation at www.thekohnfoundation.org
Please contact Allen G. Ten Broek at agt@themarinergroup.com for additional information as needed.