Ferry Service Blame Game Begins.....

I had the opportunity to meet the Ferry Service Operator and take several rides on the Turtle Runner and Pelican Perch during the first season of the Ferry Service in Pensacola

Folks online are offering their assessments about why the Pensacola Bay Ferry Service provider has discontinued his operations.  Most folks are upset and disappointed.

"I saw that coming" 

"I knew IT"

"It was too expensive!"

"I knew it wouldn't work"

All kinds of reasons were thrown out there--all kinds of opinions online.

I was hoping this service would take off, but according to news reports out recently, the service was upside down to the tune of $300K --- just for this shortened first season.

I met the captain and was able to take several rides.  I had high hopes for this service, especially since we built the dock infrastructure out at quietwater beach boardwalk to accommodate this Ferry Service.

My hope now, going forward, is that another operator will be selected to take over the service.  We will see how that shakes out.

Meanwhile, not everyone was enamored with this operation.  One constituent sent me an email detailing a list of alleged transgressions this operation had committed.  This constituent made some allegations that I will investigate, so that going forward, the next operator of the Ferry will know, up front, about these additional issues.

From the email:

"Mr. Bergosh,

I feel you should be made aware some concerns surrounding the Pensacola Bay Ferry system that is being backed by the National Park Service.

There is significant disapproval from the local small businesses in the Pensacola Beach area in how the Ferry system was being run.

The big picture is that the National Park Service used government funds from the Deepwater Horizon Restitution Fund to build two vessels to be used as a ferry service to benefit the area.  Although the contract was initially put through a legally required bid process, it failed to return any adequate options due to the fact that no one could justify the operating cost well enough to want to run it.  I may have missed a legal loophole somewhere, but the second “round” of bids was never conducted and the Park Service simply hired a concessioner, Gulf Coast Maritime Services, Inc.  The concessioner was running not only a much needed ferry service to Pensacola Beach from Downtown Pensacola, but they also began specialty cruises (dolphin, sunset, and Blue Angel cruises) that are in direct competition with the local businesses in the area. Due to the fact that they didn’t actually have to purchase their vessels outright, they were able to undercut the local ticket prices which is hurting the small businesses. 

In addition to government funded competition against the local businesses, the concessioner did not apply for all the regular approvals and was not paying the required Santa Rosa Island Authority “fees.” These are a basic requirement of all other entities conducting business on the Island.  The Santa Rosa Island Authority has been very strict about other companies not being able to pick up passengers at any location without specific leaseholder signatures and state permission (for publicly used docks such as the Boardwalk). The fact that the National Park Service and its concessioner 

bypassed these strict requirements and that the Island Authority has made no effort to correct it has been very disheartening for the local businesses. 

The National Park Service and the concessioner just completed the contract renegotiations and even with the shady, potentially illegal, advantages they have given themselves the concessioner was still unable to support the original Ferry business concept. 

The primary objective of the Deepwater Horizon Restitution Fund is to repair and bolster the local ecology and economy.  Using these funds to undercut local business who suffered severely from the oil spill seems improper, to say the least.

As a constituent in your District, I am requesting your assistance in communicating with the National Park Service, and whoever its new concessioner may be, about their direct competition with local businesses already providing the same services (the specialty cruises).  We would like to see them revert the goal back to only being a transportation service.  Although we are willing to take any actions necessary to right the wrongs and stifle illegal competitors, we are hopeful to resolve this matter without major actions having to be taken. 

I understand the Ferry Service will be on the agenda for the upcoming meeting on Thursday, November 1.  I will be unable to attend but I would suggest and appreciate this information being passed along to all other involved or concerned commissioners.  The objective is to have a fully informed conversation about the future involvement with the National Park Service and its Ferry operation.

Thank you for your time and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Respectfully,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Owner- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"