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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: StormJib]
#112771
11/21/2016 04:48 PM
11/21/2016 04:48 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
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Macon, Georgia
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Blyden Terminal IS the defacto "Tortola Visitor Transportation Hub". The major challenge on the STT side is the airport and ferry terminal taxi associations but I believe a bit of negotiation could eliminate that.
My proposal does not eliminate the existing ferry operators but presents a way for them to work together to finance a new fleet, reduce shore side fixed cost and boat operating costs, increase reservation rates and provide reliable convenient schedules. Everyone wins if a few people would just take their heads out of the sand and cooperate with each other.
Last edited by GlennA; 11/21/2016 04:49 PM.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: Sunnykm]
#112776
11/23/2016 12:27 AM
11/23/2016 12:27 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
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Macon, Georgia
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Provincetown III is leased for the season by Roadtown Fast Ferry. The crew is from the US and runs the boat year round. In the spring/summer Bay State Cruise Co owns it operates in the Boston/Provincetown market where you can't get away with running a shoddy ferry service.
THAT is the kind of boat and service that I proposed and will be needed for the BVI tourism industry to survive.
Last edited by GlennA; 11/23/2016 12:47 AM.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: StormJib]
#112778
11/23/2016 10:21 AM
11/23/2016 10:21 AM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,610 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
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Woodstock, GA
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StormJib said: Is there a BVI company that runs passenger service between Tortola and St. Thomas or are all the ferry boats and operators really controlled by USVI entities? Does the stop on St. John require the ferries operators to be fully Jones Act compliant? I trust you're not talking about the "Davey Jones Act"?
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: RickinAtlanta]
#112779
11/23/2016 12:15 PM
11/23/2016 12:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
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RickinAtlanta said:StormJib said: Is there a BVI company that runs passenger service between Tortola and St. Thomas or are all the ferry boats and operators really controlled by USVI entities? Does the stop on St. John require the ferries operators to be fully Jones Act compliant? I trust you're not talking about the "Davey Jones Act"? I am referring to our US laws that require you to use a US Vessel and Crew to move directly between two US Ports. That is one of the many critical problems that plague the economy of Puerto Rico. The Jones Act when used in the sense of maritime law refers to federal statute 46 USC section 883.
Generally, the Jones Act prohibits any foreign built or foreign flagged vessel from engaging in coastwise trade within the United States. A number of other statutes affect coastwise trade and should be consulted along with the Jones Act. These include the Passenger Services Act, 46 USC section 289 which restricts coastwise transportation of passengers and 46 USC section 12108 restricts the use of foreign vessel to commercially catch or transport fish in U.S. waters.
The essential term that has given rise to various interpretations of what constitutes "coastwise trade". The federal courts have given a very wide interpretation of the term. Essentially the term applies to a voyage that beginning at any point within the United States and delivering a type of commercial cargo to any other point within the United States. My question is what laws apply to a commercial vessel the travels the St. Thomas, to St. John, to Tortola route?
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: StormJib]
#112782
11/23/2016 04:51 PM
11/23/2016 04:51 PM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,610 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 3,610
Woodstock, GA
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StormJib said:RickinAtlanta said:StormJib said: Is there a BVI company that runs passenger service between Tortola and St. Thomas or are all the ferry boats and operators really controlled by USVI entities? Does the stop on St. John require the ferries operators to be fully Jones Act compliant? I trust you're not talking about the "Davey Jones Act"? I am referring to our US laws that require you to use a US Vessel and Crew to move directly between two US Ports. That is one of the many critical problems that plague the economy of Puerto Rico. The Jones Act when used in the sense of maritime law refers to federal statute 46 USC section 883.
Generally, the Jones Act prohibits any foreign built or foreign flagged vessel from engaging in coastwise trade within the United States. A number of other statutes affect coastwise trade and should be consulted along with the Jones Act. These include the Passenger Services Act, 46 USC section 289 which restricts coastwise transportation of passengers and 46 USC section 12108 restricts the use of foreign vessel to commercially catch or transport fish in U.S. waters.
The essential term that has given rise to various interpretations of what constitutes "coastwise trade". The federal courts have given a very wide interpretation of the term. Essentially the term applies to a voyage that beginning at any point within the United States and delivering a type of commercial cargo to any other point within the United States. My question is what laws apply to a commercial vessel the travels the St. Thomas, to St. John, to Tortola route? Oh but for a sense of humor... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#112783
11/23/2016 08:35 PM
11/23/2016 08:35 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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While all the ferries in service were built in the US, I believe Smiths is a USVI firm. Native Son and Caribbean Maratime Excursions (RTFF) are BVI. The Jones Act prohibits foreign flagged vessels from carrying passengers between US ports so USVI to BVI doesn't fall under the act. WE/Cruz Bay/Redhook may be a special acomodation due to location of the C&I locations. There can be special waivers. I believe the Vancouver/Bellingham route operates under one.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: Fred]
#112786
11/24/2016 11:50 AM
11/24/2016 11:50 AM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,610 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
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Posts: 3,610
Woodstock, GA
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Fred said: Rick, I got it and most appropriate given the condition of many of the ferries. Good one. Fred <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Nothing like riding below on the Bomba Charger and seeing the fish swim by the window as we list to port! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: RickinAtlanta]
#112788
11/24/2016 12:48 PM
11/24/2016 12:48 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,035 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
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GA/NC
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I was on the charger once and we listed so far over the Captain yanked the engines out of gear and we hung with a huge list for probably 20 seconds. I was convinced it was going to roll and planning my exit strategy. So was the crew as several bailed out of the wheelhouse. We continued at a much slower pace after that. What made me laugh was the BVI government had just required that all charter boats have a individual stability certificate and I had to pay big bucks out of pocket to have it done. The cat was 25' wide and 45' long! G
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 11/24/2016 12:50 PM.
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#112789
11/24/2016 02:57 PM
11/24/2016 02:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
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Posts: 1,049
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So what is the exact role of the BVI Government with the passenger ferries that travel between St. Thomas and the BVI Islands?
Last edited by StormJib; 11/24/2016 02:59 PM.
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Re: Airport Expansion
[Re: StormJib]
#112790
11/24/2016 05:49 PM
11/24/2016 05:49 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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That, unfortunately, is the big question. As a vital transportation link, the BVI Ports Authority and the Ministry of Communications and Works have constitutional authority to regulate the ferry service but they seem to have totally abandoned all responsibility in that area.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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