Today's Avis headline re: HOVENSA

Hubby went out, in the rain, and got a paper. 🙂 Nothing to get excited about.....just more of the same.

Notice how he won't sit with possible buyers to discuss tax incentives? He expects someone to buy it and then approach the government for tax breaks. We all know that isn't going to happen that way. No one would put down the millions/billions without knowing up front what incentives they can get.

As he said, the USVI do not own an oil refinery. The USVI sure should be trying to help Hovensa find a buyer, however. To refine oil, transfer containers or something on that property. I know,.......Disney World St Croix. That'll get the Disney cruise line to swing by.
:@)

They had a broker looking for qualified buyers, and Mapp claims he has spoken to Disney. We will wait to see if he can woo a Hovensa buyer or a cruise line investment partnership.

They had a broker looking for qualified buyers, and Mapp claims he has spoken to Disney. We will wait to see if he can woo a Hovensa buyer or a cruise line investment partnership.

Maybe you missed the news. Mapp refuses to talk to anyone interested in buying the facility.

I still think Chucky's going to buy it for a buck, turn it into her 'headquarters' and invite Guinness to her "Worlds Biggest Fish Fry" for the next election cycle...

We hear Mapp is having secret talks with Peter Pan, looking to turn Hovensa into a Unicorn farm.

Just an observation, with the Pres. Talking up energy and the Caribbean/Latin America as well as Venezuela descending into never never land, in addition to running out of storage capacity in the States that shipping US crude to the Caribbean and refining it may be attractive .

I'm off island now and don't keep up with the day to day, but it seems from afar that Mapp is exactly as bad as I feared. True?

I'm off island now and don't keep up with the day to day, but it seems from afar that Mapp is exactly as bad as I feared. True?

I didn't fear that he would be bad, in fact I hoped for just the opposite.
Unfortunately, what we are seeing in evidence to the contrary.

I didn't fear that he would be bad, in fact I hoped for just the opposite.
Unfortunately, what we are seeing in evidence to the contrary.

The passage of time can often result in positive change but in this case the leopard's spots were well embedded and I'm rather surprised that you were optimistic.

With the soon to open bigger Panama Canal, the New Panamax ships are too large to put into port except for a few US east coast harbors. Converting the Hovensa facility to transfer containers from these new super large ships to ships of more conventional size seems like an idea worth looking in to. There is a need to distribute containers to smaller ships so they can reach final destinations in the U.S. And Caribbean. I think I read somewhere that the Hovensa facilities are capable of handling the New Panamax ships. Can anyone confirm this?

The hovensa port is constrained by shallow draft. I understood that the original reason for t he container terminal in Statia was for the partial offloading of cargoes so that ships could safely enter our port.

The hovensa port is constrained by shallow draft. I understood that the original reason for t he container terminal in Statia was for the partial offloading of cargoes so that ships could safely enter our port.

According to the VIPA, draft at the facility varies between 29' and 36'. The old Panamax ships have a draft of 39.5 and the new 49.9. Even with vast amounts of lubricants applied to the hulls, the ships won't fit.

The hovensa port is constrained by shallow draft. I understood that the original reason for t he container terminal in Statia was for the partial offloading of cargoes so that ships could safely enter our port.

According to the VIPA, draft at the facility varies between 29' and 36'. The old Panamax ships have a draft of 39.5 and the new 49.9. Even with vast amounts of lubricants applied to the hulls, the ships won't fit.

Here's the article I vaguely remember reading:

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/major-container-port-envisioned-for-st-croix-1.1591544

Here's the article I vaguely remember reading:

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/major-container-port-envisioned-for-st-croix-1.1591544

That's from November 2013 and as far as I recall there was no further mention of it.

Here's the article I vaguely remember reading:

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/major-container-port-envisioned-for-st-croix-1.1591544

That's from November 2013 and as far as I recall there was no further mention of it.

.........Of course not,........I still want to move to STX, so I'm keeping abreast of things. I want to make sure (as much as possible) the economy of the island will make the move a "smart" decision. Especially as far as the hospital is concerned since that is were I would likely want to work.

IMO, I would look elsewhere to move. The economy is DISMAL on STX and has no signs of being revived in the near future. Optimism does not fix the serious issues that the islands face. Also, the hospital may likely be one of the worst places to take employment at. Have you read the news at all regarding the hospital.

There is little development, skimpy tourism, high unemployment, high government subsidies, crumbling infrastructure, highest KW costs in the country (which are greatly attributing to the rest of the problems) and a dwindling tax base. Not a great set of economic attributes.

Hate to burst your bubble but you do need to look elsewhere or you will end up leaving with a lot less than you arrived with. A note of caution!

Re: Latest news on HOVENSA

http://viconsortium.com/business/vialet-i-want-hovensa-to-be-sold-st-croix-needs-jobs/

Re: Latest news on HOVENSA

http://viconsortium.com/business/vialet-i-want-hovensa-to-be-sold-st-croix-needs-jobs/

Don't waste a click. Nothing new. Just a senator stating the blatantly obvious “I strongly believe that the refinery needs to be reopened.” And then saying any operating agreement should not release HOVENSA from all its liabilities. “If you are successful in getting the plant, please make sure that that language is not in the agreement because I can’t vote for anything that says that,”

Oh, I can just see Hess/PDVSA agreeing to retain liability post sale - Yea Right!

Going into the elections Vialet was against the sale of the refinery. Now he is for it. I guess he got the votes he needed to get into office and is now flip flopping.

Add to that Map won't meet and discuss tax break options with a prospective buyer. He is willing to meet AFTER a sale and then discuss tax concessions. That kills a sale right there since no one in their right mind will put down hundreds of millions when they have no guarantee of how the government will negotiate. And given Mapp's record so far, there would be no concessions given.

No one is going to buy the refinery under those terms. Hess/PDVSA are more than happy to let it sit and rust so the GVI and the Feds can pick up the cost to clean it up in 10 or 20 years. I hope the GVI does go bankrupt. It needs a good a$$ kicking.

No one is going to buy the refinery under those terms. Hess/PDVSA are more than happy to let it sit and rust so the GVI and the Feds can pick up the cost to clean it up in 10 or 20 years. I hope the GVI does go bankrupt. It needs a good a$$ kicking.

(tu) In seven years, when retirees can't get their pensions (which are NOT guaranteed under the PBGC) the shit will really hit the fan.