PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, July 24, Port St. Maarten Management and Staff laid a wreath at the statue of the late Dr. Claude Wathey in front of the Cruise Terminal Building on the occasion of his 93rd birthday.
The construction of a modern-day seaport was one of the visions of the late Dr. Wathey.
The development of the harbor facilities over the past 55-years started off with one company and now encompasses 13 companies with over 70 employees responsible for most of the country’s maritime-related activities. The operations are also broken down into four pillars, namely Cruise, Cargo, Yachting and Real Estate.
The Port St. Maarten Group of Companies has diversified its activities into real estate ownership and port consultancy as well as owning and operating the port’s two mobile harbor cranes.
The country’s seaport – Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility - is named after Wathey who has been described as the ‘father of the nation,’ overseeing the economic development of the country over a 40-year period.
55-years later, St. Maarten is a successful cruise destination. This is due to its approach of listening to the cruise lines and understanding the business which has grown by leaps and bounds.
The vision of Port St. Maarten is to lead in the Caribbean through quality service and operational excellence while providing a safe and secure environment for stakeholders, cruise passengers and crew.
The port has received many accolades over the years recognizing its position within the Region and the role it plays for local employment and business generated for the country, generating one third of the country’s Gross Domestic Product from its cruise and cargo operations.
Port St. Maarten is prepared for the future of cruises and continues to sail into opportunities.
