Inside St. Maarten’s Marine Industry Immersion Day
On June 17, the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association and the National Employment Service Center took government officials, educators and labor representatives on a firsthand tour of the island's marine industry — from IMM Shipyard to the Maritime School of the West Indies — followed by a policy discussion at IGY Marinas Isle de Sol. The day wrapped with an invitation to the NESC Job Fair on September 24.
On June 17, 2026, the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association and the National Employment Service Center took government officials, educators, and labor representatives on a firsthand tour of the island’s marine industry — from boatyards to a maritime training school — followed by a policy roundtable on workforce development and infrastructure.
Seeing was believing on June 17 as government officials, educators, labor representatives and marine industry leaders stepped into the heart of St. Maarten’s maritime economy during the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association’s (SMMTA) Marine Industry Immersion Day. Organized with the National Employment Service Center (NESC), the event offered a behind-the-scenes look at the businesses, skilled trades and workforce that have helped make the island one of the Caribbean’s leading yachting hubs.
Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina opened the day with welcome remarks, setting the tone for an event designed to connect policymakers directly with the industry that helps drive the island’s economy.
A tour aboard Boomerang Charters through Simpson Bay Lagoon included stops at IMM Shipyard, Island Water World, FKG Marine Rigging, Electec, the Maritime School of the West Indies and Lagoon Marina — home to Nomad Solutions and Tropical Sail Loft — where participants saw everything from yacht refits and marine fabrication to workforce training and hurricane restoration projects. Island Water World, founded in Sint Maarten in 1967, offered a reminder of just how long the island’s marine trades have been building careers; the Maritime School’s Kidz at Sea program, which reports roughly an 80 percent success rate placing graduates into the industry, showed participants where the next generation is already coming from.
The afternoon session at IGY Marinas Isle de Sol shifted to discussion, with panels and roundtables examining workforce development, infrastructure, permitting and the marine sector’s regional competitiveness. Shervin Frederick, senior policy advisor at the Ministry of TEATT, and Drs. Peggy-Ann Richardson, division head of Labor Affairs and Social Services, joined former SMMTA president Chris Marshall in the discussion.
“What stood out most was the quality of the dialogue and the genuine interest shown by participants,” says Jesse Peterson, SMMTA president. “The panel discussion generated thoughtful questions and meaningful exchanges between industry professionals, government representatives, and educators. These conversations are essential if we want to continue strengthening the marine industry and the opportunities it creates for the people of Sint Maarten.”
The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration and an invitation for marine employers to participate in the NESC Job Fair on September 24.
At-a-glance box:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Event | Marine Industry Immersion Day |
| Organizers | SMMTA + NESC |
| Date | June 17, 2026 |
| Morning | Boat tour, Simpson Bay Lagoon (6 stops) |
| Afternoon | Policy panels, IGY Marinas Isle de Sol |
| What’s next | NESC Job Fair, September 24, 2026 |
Carol Bareuther has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
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