By Cleopatra Murphy
Freeport News Reporter
cleopatra@nasguard.com
The Discovery Sun has been listed for sale on website shipseller.net.
The ship’s listing was posted on the website as early as April 29, before word broke that the ship would discontinue service between Grand Bahama and Fort Lauderdale on September 7.
Although an asking price is not listed, the ad notes that people with a serious interest in the vessel should provide their name and information on their background.
The Discovery Sun is described, as “old but well maintained” and specifies that it is SOLAS 2010 complaint.
Betty Bethel, general manager of business development for the Ministry of Tourism was questioned yesterday about whether the Ministry of Tourism was aware that the Discovery Sun is up for sale.
Bethel however never answered the question directly although asked more than once.
She instead responded that the ministry tries to keep in constant communication with its partners.
“The Ministry of Tourism is always in communication with its partners and we are always speaking with all of the partners that bring business to Grand Bahama for improvement so that any changes that impact us severely we need to stay on top of those,” Bethel said.
When the question was again posed about the ministry’s awareness of the sale Bethel said she could not say much about the matter, but she had no direct contact with the Discovery Cruise Line officials.
“Our minister, our director general and those persons who have responsibilities for lift to Grand Bahama have an open and a stellar relationship as I’ve indicated earlier especially with Discovery,” Bethel noted. “Conversations are ongoing all the time.”
She said however that the vessel has played a substantial role in the island’s economy for a long time.
“The Discovery Cruise Line has been a stellar partner of the islands of The Bahamas, especially Grand Bahama island for 20 plus years. We have garnered a relationship with them that has allowed them to provide the type of service for our local residents as well as guests to Grand Bahama island and we do relish that relationship,” Bethel said.
The Freeport News was the first to break the news of the Discovery Sun’s pending departure from Grand Bahama in Saturday’s paper after Yannick Toussaint, Discovery Cruise Line’s on-island representative revealed that she learned of the ship’s approaching departure while attending a company meeting in Miami last Wednesday.
“The company for years now has been operating and losing money. We have tried many different ways in marketing to attract more people, changing our whole schedule, making it all-inclusive and unfortunately we haven’t been able to reach our goal of tourists and passengers on-board to maintain the service,” Toussaint,” said.