Question 1

MAKING BAHAMIAN CRUISING SAFE

Accepted Answer

The ABM maintains constant contact with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, its private engineers and the Port Department encouraging the repair and maintenance of Aids To Navigation (ATONs) around The Bahamas. Due to our efforts, many lighthouse lights and other lights that are crucial to safe navigation have been fixed. We are also advancing with government the need to dredge and properly mark certain entrance channels.

Question 2

KEEPING AN EYE ON SECURITY

Accepted Answer

We keep an eye open for illegal activity of all kinds and send regular alerts to our network on about any activity of concern. We maintain contact with the government and lobby for increases in penalties, where we deem it necessary.

Question 3

PROMOTING MARINAS and FISHING

Accepted Answer

The ABM promotes member marinas, and the cruising and sport fishing industries. We work closely with the Ministry of Tourism at trade shows, supplying support for boating flings, and information to Florida yacht clubs, marinas, boatyards and more. We publish The Bahamas Cruising Map & Marina Guide that promotes Bahamian marinas, yachting and sport fishing.  Copies can be obtained through www.bahamas.com, the 1-800-Bahamas toll free number and by request through the ABM's own website.

Question 4

BOAT SHOWS

Accepted Answer

The ABM has expanded its presence at major South Florida boat shows and will continue to participate in initiatives by the Ministry of Tourism to promote fishing and boating activity in The Bahamas. The association is currently developing the new Bahamas Charter Yacht Show.

Question 5

MARKETING TO LARGE VESSELS

Accepted Answer

The informal Bahamas Superyacht Association, which brings together ABM members whose marinas are capable of handling large yachts, is taking steps to provide reassurance to give superyacht captains confidence in visiting certain destinations within The Bahamas. The ABM, under the Ministry of Tourism, has been holding seminars and presentations at superyacht boatyards and yacht shows.

Question 6

HELPING MEMBERS WITH SPECIAL PROBLEMS

Accepted Answer

The ABM helps individual members with particular problems, speaking to government with our unified group’s voice. Problems range from giving voice to needs for increased or improved air access, to dredging harbours and channels, or problems with regulations of various kinds.

Question 7

WHY MEMBERSHIP IS IMPORTANT

Accepted Answer

Everything we do helps all marinas and the yachting industry but we can’t do our job without the marinas’ support, both funding-wise and in forming good policies.
 
Government only wants to deal with one official association to form policy and deal with yachting, fishing, taxing, and customs and immigration issues. We’re the main focal point for government and we have to get our voice heard together. That is why we formed.
The Association of Bahamas Marinas or ”The ABM” is comprised of the large majority of The Bahamas’ tourist-related marina properties. Our mandate is:
 
To promote our marina members.

To protect the industry’s interests and grow the industry as a whole.

To leverage and coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism’s promotional efforts.

To work with the private sector BHTA and promotional boards, the BOIPB, NPIPB and GBITB.

To liaise with many other government departments such as Customs, Immigration, Health, Agriculture & Fisheries, Information Technology, and Finance.

To liaise with law enforcement and military such as the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and the US Coast Guard.

To liaise with NGOs such as The Bahamas National Trust, The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Service.

Take the lead in solving problems that affect yachting, marine tourism, and marinas—such as broken and malfunctioning aids to navigation (channel markers, navigational lights, buoys, etc.)

To lobby government against deleterious polices and excessive taxes.

Question 8

ABM’S BAHAMAS CRUISING MAP

Accepted Answer

Every year we publish a strategic collateral piece for the worldwide boating market: The Bahamas Cruising Map & Marina Guide, which has proved to be a popular and powerful marketing piece.
 
The ABM Map offers an amazingly well-targeted distribution to Florida marinas, brokerages, yards and yacht clubs to reach thousands of yachts, captains and yacht owners in South Florida.

The ABM Map is the most popular Bahamas piece at all the major boat shows.

We personally deliver the map to all significant marinas in Florida between Stuart in the north and Key Largo in the south—where 95% of all our yachting and fishing business comes from or comes through.

The map is the main collateral item used by the Ministry of Tourism’s Vertical Markets Department for promoting boating and fishing when encountering captains, marinas, yacht clubs and boat yards.

The map is used as the main fulfillment when enquiries about yachting and boating come into the 1-800-Bahamas toll free number and the www.bahamas.com web site.

Question 9

ABM’S MANY SUCCESSES

Accepted Answer

Thanks to the support of members, the work of the executive directors and industry partners we have made a big difference in a relatively short period of time. We believe the marina industry in The Bahamas is still very much in its infancy, and is presented with tremendous growth opportunities. Since our founding in 2009, we’ve enjoyed many successes:
 
Working with the police to bring about a significant reduction in boat thefts.
Helping the Ministry of Tourism revamp the boating, sailing and marina part of the www.bahamas.com website to become more user-friendly.
Creating direct links on www.bahamas.com to member websites to facilitate bookings.
Publicizing industry promotions and working with BOIPB, GBITB, and the NPIPB.
A seat on the executive committee of the Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA)
Allied membership in the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA).
Ensuring ABM representation at major boat shows.
Reversing highly restrictive fishing catch limits.
Expanding the quality, power and distribution of the ABM's Bahamas Cruising Map & Marina Guide in South Florida and elsewhere.
Convincing the government to reverse a sudden doubling of the cruising permit entry fees and fighting the foreign yacht backlash.
Working with The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association to significantly lessen the impact of Value Added Tax on our industry.
Successful advocacy resulting in government’s decision to lessen the impact of price controls by increasing the allowable fuel margin.
Successfully advocating for the elimination of customs duties on marine parts for repairs.
Advancing with government improvements to the boat entry clearance process.
Convincing government not to implement draconian flats-fishing regulations that would have greatly damaged The Bahamas’ bonefishing industry.
The ABM is taking the lead to effectively plan for our industry’s future—moving to implement a strategic development plan that we developed four years ago. We’re also looking to create an Economic Impact Study for our industry to show government the importance of the marina industry to tourism and local island communities.

ABM PROJECTS/WORK