Wookie
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I spoke to an equipment manufacturer today, as well as a large internet retailer. Phone hasn't rung in a week for either one. Visited a Key West dive shop yesterday, both boats at the dock during fine weather. Visited another Key West dive shop yesterday, boat running full morning and afternoon, and had been since second week in January. Talked to one of my dive shops late last month, January's open water class had 3 sign up, February's was at zero when I called.
Then I got one of the trade mag's I subscribe to today. Passenger vessel orders are through the roof at Blount and one of the west coast yards, boats that have been stacked for 4 years and routes that were abandoned in 2008 are being bought up, refurbished, and routes in Alaska and the Mississippi for overnight cruises are hot again. One operator bought 2 boats for the Alaska market and hired 60 employees to run 7 day cruises on small cruisers (like a liveaboard).
Where are we missing out. Am I supposed to can scuba diving and run a mini cruise ship from Miami to Key West? (Not) I spoke to a banker today who told me that his loan department was capitalized for $375m, but they weren't allowed to loan on dirt (real estate), but had to write loans on C&I (Commercial and Industrial). Key West doesn't exactly have any industry except small business tourism, so he's pretty frustrated.
People are getting prepared for their industries to pop out of the doldrums. Are we? What do we need to do to prepare for this. I was looking around the US East coast. 100 foot class inspected US flagged liveaboards have all but disappeared. There are 3 now when there were 10 or more in 2007. I'm grateful to be one of the three, but what do we (as an industry) need to do to get this show on the road again. We seem to be our own worst enemy right now.
Then I got one of the trade mag's I subscribe to today. Passenger vessel orders are through the roof at Blount and one of the west coast yards, boats that have been stacked for 4 years and routes that were abandoned in 2008 are being bought up, refurbished, and routes in Alaska and the Mississippi for overnight cruises are hot again. One operator bought 2 boats for the Alaska market and hired 60 employees to run 7 day cruises on small cruisers (like a liveaboard).
Where are we missing out. Am I supposed to can scuba diving and run a mini cruise ship from Miami to Key West? (Not) I spoke to a banker today who told me that his loan department was capitalized for $375m, but they weren't allowed to loan on dirt (real estate), but had to write loans on C&I (Commercial and Industrial). Key West doesn't exactly have any industry except small business tourism, so he's pretty frustrated.
People are getting prepared for their industries to pop out of the doldrums. Are we? What do we need to do to prepare for this. I was looking around the US East coast. 100 foot class inspected US flagged liveaboards have all but disappeared. There are 3 now when there were 10 or more in 2007. I'm grateful to be one of the three, but what do we (as an industry) need to do to get this show on the road again. We seem to be our own worst enemy right now.
