TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin ship aground

Did you ever see it up close? No motor for one thing.

When it was parked at Dinghy Dock it looked like a huge hazzard! I would NEVER step foot on that thing.

I agree with beachkitten, it’s like putting lip stick on a pig! I’ve actually spoke to the owners several times. I was always left with the feeling of zero experience or responsibility, just blowing thru money. At the time they told me that the lease on that tub was $16,000 a month, and was hoping to get several cruise contracts. We knew well ahead of time that it’s final destination was going to be out in Simpson Bay. Good luck to them and everyone else involved, hope the remove it safely! I also hope that the REAL owners come and retrieve their property!

You got it!

I watched them working on it, loading it and hauling trash off one day back in March. It was a real $hit show to say the least.

If the other poster is correct with the $16,000/month lease figure, GOOD LUCK with that!

Still there.....a tugboat is nearby so this may be the day

I hope so. There is supposed to be more rough weather I think this weekend.

Midgard Max tug from the cruise ship port is there but the cam isn't zoomed in enough to see if they are tugging yet.

I presume you're referring to SXM Island Cam??

If that's a tug there, it's too far away to be actually hooked up to the boat, one would think? Maybe if they do get hooked up to tow it, they will zoom in.

Yes the island cam. You may be right on too far away. It looked like the water was stirred up near the tug, but it may have just been rough water. They need to zoom in, as inquiring minds want to know! LOL

Yes, if anyone sees it zoomed in, please post here! Thanks!

The tug just left with no D Boat.

Crap. Wonder what that means?

You don't just tie on a rope and start to pull. It could very well be holed and the rocks the only think keeping it afloat. Even if it's not an immediate sinking risk, pulling it off the rocks without careful examination and planning could rip the bottom out of her. With that much boat bashing against rocks, there is bound to be some serious damage.

Well, that's certainly true, but I would have thought that they would have had a scuba diver inspect the damage first, especially since the ship has now been there since Monday? Presumably there would have already been an examination of the hull done before they even sent the tug there. My feeling is that perhaps they are waiting to get a second tug to help pull it, or a bigger one?

edit--UNLESS that boat was in fact not a tug but a dive boat? Can anyone confirm that it in fact was a tug boat?

If you look at the marine traffic under the island cam, and find the Midgard Max, click on it, and it states being a tug and shows a picture of it. It is now back at the Cruise port tied up. yes, i doubt they would have just sent a tug over just to inspect, but who knows?

SXMbeacher--oh, sorry, yes you said that. As I said, bad weather coming back in this weekend. They need to get it out of there today..

Its nearly impossible to see on island cam as it is an extremely wide angle shot usually. It was zoomed in afew days ago to show the ship

NP Carol, and yes, today would have been a great opportunity to fetch that bad boy. I'm hoping it doesn't become another one of those neglected wrecks.

With bad weather expected this weekend, or at least, high seas, it is worrisome...

As mentioned above it is still there. There was a tug a distance away from the boat this AM with a zodiac right against D Boat. Seas are reasonably calm with minimal wave activity. I would try to get another pic but it would not be different from pic #1....but with less wave activity

Anyone on the upper floors of both SBR B buildings or F building can see it easily

If I was a business owner or lived on Simpson Bay I would be freaking out about this.

Can you imagine if it ended up on the beach or pushed into another building during high seas? Less likely now since were out of hurricane season it literally could take a building down And then it sits in front of your house or business for months until somebody figures out what to do , not to mention the environmental hazard. I am all for entrepreneurship but the government has to start really thinking about how such things will or could affect others long term.

I’m sure many remember at least a few ships over the years ended up on the beach on Simpson Bay and left for a long time. High seas are forecasted this weekend so let’s hope we don’t see a repeat. Way to close for those at that end of Simpson Bay!

Supposedly the SXM Nature Foundation has taken a look at it and made a facebook post on Jan. 13 pertaining to it.

Scroll to see the discussion.

NATURE FOUNDATION SXM

I was just there (watching it from the overlook in Beacon Hill). It has no engines so no fuel or oil. I do hope they can move it away into the lagoon TODAY because very rough swells start tomorrow. The D-Boat is not "stuck" solid; it is actually rocking a bit so I expect would be in more danger when seas get rougher tomorrow. But the question is can it be moved off t he rocks without endangering the hull. People are aboard NOW (4 or 5 anyway) I expect trying to determine that. Not an enviable situation at all.

I really hope they are able to get it moved today.

No activity...gonna spend another night