May 2009 - Florida Yacht Brokers Association, Inc.

NEW JERSEY MARINE INDUSTRY
HIT HARD
Boating Industry, April 7, 2009
The New Jersey boat builders have eliminated about 1,000 jobs in the
last 18 months, according to a report in the New York Times. The
state’s biggest boat builder alone, Viking Yacht Company, is down
more than 500 jobs from a high of 1,360 workers a year ago. Another
New Jersey builder, Ocean Yachts, reported that its staff has dwindled
from 130 to 50 employees in the last two years. In general, New
Jersey manufacturing lost 15,900 jobs last year, the Labor Department
reported. According to the Times, that 5.1 percent decline is almost
five times steeper than the 1.17 percent decline in employment overall
across the state.
SOMALI PIRATE
TO BE TRIED AS ADULT IN NY
www.telegraph.co.uk, April 21 , 2009
A Somali teenager was charged as an adult in a New York court on
Tuesday in what is believed to be the first piracy case in America in
more than a century. Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse, who is thought to be
18, is also facing hostage-taking charges over the seizure of the captain
of an American cargo ship earlier this month. He faces a mandatory
life sentence if convicted of piracy. The judge rejected the
defense request that he should be tried as a minor, saying that Muse's
father had given conflicting testimony over his son's age.
Submitted by Hargrave Yachts
HOW TO MAKE
HOPE FLOAT
You may have seen M/Y "SHEKINAH GLORY" cruising through the
Caribbean Sea, but this 78' Hargrave is not out for a pleasure cruise; she
travels these turquoise waters with a singular purpose, to bring hope to
and serve the poverty-stricken people of the Islands.
Length, beam, engines and layout seem insignificant when you consider
her name, "SHEKINAH", which translates from Hebrew meaning "the
presence of God in this world." This sentiment is the foundation for
which the Shekinah Glory Island Ministries, LLC purchased this yacht
and set out to change lives. The SGIM is operated by the Gagnon Family,
who are driven by their beliefs to travel throughout poverty-stricken
islands and well beyond the tourist areas to distribute medical supplies,
clothing and footwear, build churches, schools and community centers,
and educate people on topics such as AIDS awareness.
The SGIM said, "Our mission is to provide a unique opportunity to make
a tangible difference in the lives of people who need hope." M/Y "SHEK-
INAH GLORY", or what the Gagnon family refers to as "Floating Hope",
is certainly an unusual platform from which to spread goodwill but they
have found it to be incredibly effective. Their good works have helped the
staff at Hargrave realize that in order to make hope float you must have
faith in your beliefs, strength in your hearts and perseverance in your
mission. Hargrave Custom Yachts is proud to recognize and support the
endeavors of Shekinah Glory Island Ministries as they set afloat to serve
the less fortunate. Contact Kevin Gagnon via e-mail at:
kgagnon1@maine.rr.com, /www.sgislandministries.org.