Business View Caribbean | April 2019

70 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN APRIL 2019 turbines that were destroyed during Irma, but we’re now looking to a bigger, 250 kph windmill capable of generating between 0.7 and 1 Mw power per year – about half of our Port’s energy consumption. A big concern is making sure that the blades on the windmill can be lowered during stormy conditions. The one we have our eyes on has a 150-ft. pole that you have to lower them from, and then you can box them in on the floor, to protect them from flying debris. The footings of the windmill have to be very strong, as well. It has to be engineered to withstand the force of waves, for example. Europe has a lot of windmill farms in the North Sea, so, it can be engineered; we just have to make sure we do it the right way.” The renewed growth of cruising to St. Maarten owes its success to the hard work, support, and vision of many stakeholders on the island. “It’s about government enacting sensible policies; private tour companies delivering the product and experience tourists are looking for; the local Nature Foundation protecting the environment - everybody has critical roles to play,” says van Kooten. “And they do it so well, I would like to commend them. Millennials have become a symbol for changing customer trends and lifestyles. They’re not always looking to buy stuff, outright, they’re looking for experiences that they’ll carry with them for a long time. If you don’t factor in that demand, people will not be happy, your ratings will be low, and you’ll lose your marquis position in the cruise market. So, we make sure that we facilitate and educate our local stakeholders to connect much more to culture, history, and nature than we do now. And that we keep adapting and reinventing the way the cruise is experienced on St. Maarten.” Just picture it, cruising into Port, toasting the sunset, and soaking up the true St. Maarten spirit. A cool Margarita moment… Cheers! PREFERRED VENDORS n IT Partner www.itpartner.nl IT Partner B.V. is a software development company, founded 20 years ago, offering software products for ports and cruise industry. Since 2009, Port St. Maarten is fully automated by using IT Partner software for port management, container, general cargo and ro-ro operations, dock master/berth planning, cruise and ultra-yacht services as well as billing and invoicing. Just recently IT Partner signed an agreement with Port St. Maarten for developing a Port Community System (Center PCS). This system is an extension to the port, to enable all parties within the logistics chain of the port, to exchange information easily, safely and efficiently. IT Partners key product-line is CENTER, a collection of software products that together service terminal, port and cruise operational workflow and management. Please let us briefly introduce the CENTER products. CENTER PCS is a cloud-based port community system to exchange information between different parties in the seaport logistics chain. CENTER PORT MANAGEMENT controls all port movements and assets. CENTER ERP is a terminal operating system (TOS) for deepsea, shortsea and inland container operations. CENTER MASTERPLAN enables extensive yard planning, vessel planning, quay planning and move control. CENTER CLIENT PORTAL connects to CENTER ERP or your existing TOS, and operates as a portal to the outside world. Your own organization, customers and suppliers have access to the necessary information and operational control. CENTER APPS is a complete mobile software solution for all your port and cruise logistics activities. CENTER INTELLIGENCE is a business intelligence solution that enables you to make effective insightful decisions based on facts and real time information.