"Ocean Jewel" Gambling Ship lays off 50 - Tuesday 12th of July 2005
St. Petersburg, Florida - The “Ocean Jewel’s� Port of St. Petersburg terminal is a dark, hot, empty cavern.
The shuttle that used to bring passengers daily, sits idle, awaiting repairs.
All ship operations now run from John’s Pass.
Bill Foster, St. Petersburg City Council Member:
“They have indeed breached the contract.�
St. Petersburg City Councilman Bill Foster says that when the “Ocean Jewel� launched last fall, it had a contract with the city to run exclusively from the Port of St. Petersburg.
It was supposed to bring activity and money to a port that was a financial drain on the city.
Now, the company has suspended its shuttle service from the Port of St. Petersburg, and its CEO says it may never resume service.
As a result 50 employees have been laid off
Foster doesn’t expect the ocean jewel to resume St. Pete operations.
Bill Foster, St. Petersburg City Council Member:
“Good riddance, and take the name of St. Petersburg off your ship. I’ll even help them, take out a can of spray paint and cover up St. Petersburg, because I don’t want my city’s name associated with that any longer.�
Dennis Shepard is the new CEO of Titan Cruises, which owns the “Ocean Jewel.�
He told 10-News that the company is not in deep financial trouble.
But he added the ship lost eight days of business from hurricanes in the last month, and might struggle if the next two weeks are interrupted with storms.
But he did say the ship lost eight days of business in the last month due to storms, and needs to recoup its losses, soon.
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