SOLIDARITY SAINT MARTIN - Reconstruction of the nautical sector

During the month of September 2017, hurricanes IRMA and MARIA hit the island of Saint-Martin, destroying more than 70% of the nautical sector. As it was committed, The French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN) conducted a first assessment mission on the economic and social consequences of hurricane IRMA on the marine sector of St. Martin.

Some facts and figures:

• 70% of the boats and infrastructures are completely affected
• 68 companies in the nautical and the pleasure are concerned
• They represent 400 jobs and 95 million euros in turnover
• These companies generate significant economic benefits at the local level, with tourism and fishing being essential resources for island life
• Boat rental companies are the hardest hit because they have almost no tools to work with
• The main logistical difficulty lies in the fact that there is not enough room to work for the reconstruction of the sector. It is indeed essential to clear wrecks beforehand. However, it is first necessary to wait until the experts of the insurance companies go on the spot to make findings. The situation is now blocked
• 1000 boats were affected, almost half of which are now wrecks.The number of shipwrecks is expected to increase because repair costs on some boats will be much higher than their market value
• 

The activity of the sector is therefore permanently at a standstill and the situation is therefore at this moment blocked.

The evaluation mission was conducted at the beginning of October by Mr Guillaume Arnauld of the Lions, Deputy Delegate General of the FIN, in connection with the association of professionals of the water sports of Saint-Martin (METIMER).
The FIN delegate met with more than 50 business leaders who were victims of the incident, learned about the damage in the various affected areas (on land and from the sea) and visited a deconstruction company located in the north of the island. .During his mission, Mr. Arnauld of Lions also met with the President of the territorial collectivity Mr. Daniel Gibbs and the interdepartmental delegate for reconstruction Mr. Philippe Gustin, as well as the representatives of the CCI and the MEDEF, the Antillean companies waste management, insurance experts and state services.

The French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN) aims to defend, represent and promote the different sectors of French nautical industries, both at home and abroad. The FIN currently has more than 600 members, drawn from eleven nautical industry and service professions, representing more than 80% of the industry's turnover.