This Tuesday was almost a no-ship day for St. Thomas when pilot boat crews didn’t show up to take the harbor pilots out to bring in the five cruise ships which stood off the entrance to St. Thomas’ harbor.
Eventually the cruise ships sent their own tenders after the pilots, but some boats had to dock more than two hours late.
The coxswains and seaman who man the pilot boats “didn’t show up to work,” V.I. Port Authority Executive Director Kenn Hobson said in a telephone interview from the Dominican Republic.
“Several VIPA marine employees – coxswains, seamen, dockmasters and office staff – called in sick or did not report to work this morning. As a result, ships that arrived in St. Thomas early this morning were delayed in berthing at their scheduled ports,” according to a VIPA release issued Tuesday.
VIPA has been provided with no official notice of a work action by the group, according to Hobson.
Ironically, Hobson is attending a conference of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Line Association to promote the U.S. Virgin Islands as a destination for cruise ships. Hobson lamented the timing, noting that he was headed for a meeting with Royal Caribbean at the time of the interview.
According to the release, V.I. Attorney General Vincent Frazer is investigating whether the pilot boat crews’ activity is part of a concerted effort with other VIPA unions, an activity prohibited by the marine employee’s bargaining agreement.
Taking the pilots out to the cruise ships is no mean feat in calm waters. The pilot boat has to be maneuvered carefully alongside the cruise ship, and the harbor pilot must leap onto a ladder to climb onto the ship. In rough waters, even with an experienced crew, that leap can become perilous.
Pilots have to count on the singular skill set of the seaman and coxswains who guide the pilot boats.
Initially VIPA found substitutes for the coxswains and the seaman, but said that the pilots weren’t satisfied. After some time, VIPA negotiated with the cruise ship captains to send their own tenders for the harbor pilots.
Whether the action is official or not, there were some tense moments for the island’s economy when merchants were looking at the impact of missing out on a day with five cruise ships.
While VIPA defined the activity as a “situation” and did not use the words “job action,” the effect of the absenteeism of normally behind-the-scenes players’has the full attention of the island.
But, if they have a message, coxswains, seamen and dockmasters are not talking.
From cruise ship passengers to merchants, the topic led conversations all over the island Tuesday—all the way to Government House. Commenting on the incident, Gov. John de Jongh Jr. said, “…at least the day had been salvaged for the merchants.”
The activity’s timing and its potential for a vast impact was summed up by Cardow Jewelers general manager Amy Colon, who noted the impact on retailers, taxi drivers and eventually the territory’s government and residents when the gross receipt taxes don’t reflect a five-ship day.
“Everybody hurts,” Colon said. “When five ships don’t come in – this would be terrible – people only think of Main Street.”
Colon, interviewed as the ships began to come in, said that Main Street merchants had remained optimistic that “something would be resolved.”
Once docked, the cruise ships passengers disembarking from the ships, hurrying down the WICO dock and agreeing to be interviewed only if they could walk toward their destinations while they spoke.
Toronto resident John Colautti said that he was initially told the delay was due to a lack of pilots, but that the ship staff kept the passengers informed as to progress with announcements every 45 minutes or so.
Fellow Emerald Princess passenger Floyd White of Denver, Col., explained that his St. Thomas plans were quashed due to the nearly three-hour delay he experienced.
“We had plans to meet with friends (who live on St. Thomas), but we can’t do that now,” White said as he hurried toward downtown shops.
White and other passengers got a little reprieve when many of the cruise ships extended their stays.
According to the authority, Carnival Liberty will leave at 8 p.m., Emerald Princess at 6, and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas at 7.
Norwegian Sun and Carnival Dream will leave at their originally scheduled time of 8 p.m.
