An incredible amount of development and evolution has taken place in the shipping industry, locally and worldwide, over the past four decades. George Pelgrim, arriving from Curaçao at age of 23 in the 1970s, could never have imagined how the future of his career and business would unfold. After years of working in the Port, shipping and travel industry in Curaçao and St. Maarten, he founded Intermar with a team of just three men, utilising the scantly developed and unsecured Port.
Today, Intermar is one of the stronghold companies of St. Maarten, serving as a portal to the entire Northeastern Caribbean. It is a major player in an industry that is a lifeline to the island, while the port has become one of the most sought after in the region. Pelgrim has experienced business growth hand-in-hand with the island’s economy. Whatever changes may lie ahead; he is focused on business continuity and remains very positive about the future.
The Weekender sat down with the Intermar President to get to know more about the company, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in style among invited guests this weekend, with a night of fond memories, awards of recognition, and live entertainment.
To see it through his lens is to catch a glimpse of St. Maarten’s economic history. After working for five years in the Port of Curaçao, he was sent here by the then Dutch-owned Curaçao Trading Company to assist a Japanese company called Curaçao Pioneering (CPC), which had a fleet of about 50 ships based in St. Maarten. Fishing in the Atlantic for tuna and exporting it for Bumblebee was one of the biggest industries on the island, as of the 60s. Pelgrim assisted with shipping along with accommodations, vessels logistics and travel home for the crew members that came to and from the Far East, including Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan.
Coming from a very structured port in Curaçao, working in St. Maarten proved to be a new experience, and he can now look back with awe at the evolution of the port, including the containerised development. Between the shipping agents, shipping lines and the port, there has been an incredible amount of development. Today, St. Maarten can accommodate large container vessels and fully leverage its strategic location as a major first point of contact and trans-shipment port for the Northeastern Caribbean.
He can remember when St. Maarten handled an average of 250 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) a week, as opposed to the weekly throughput of 2500 TEUs that now come through the port. The port had no security or barriers to entry, and there were just two small warehouses belonging to Chester Wathey and Eddy Buncamper, both shipping lines agents and pioneers in the local shipping industry.
There was no direct VHF communication between the harbour master and any vessel coming into port – Saba Radio needed to be called for that purpose.
Pelgrim remembers approaching the late Claude Wathey with requests, such as being allowed to secure the Port entry and acquire basic VHF communication equipment for the Port. He remembers him as the only one to really push for improvements.
Dr. Albert Claudius ("Claude") Wathey, who passed away in 1998, is remembered as one of the most dominant political leaders in St. Maarten history and is credited for modernising and pushing expansion of the economy, especially the port and airport. His statue stands prominent in Port St. Maarten today – his name tied to the “A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities.”
Pelgrim recognises that cooperation between the port and government has been positive over the years, allowing for growth. He also acknowledged the contributions, specifically of Theo Heyliger, who in his capacity as Commissioner of the Port in the 1990s, was always receptive to the Cargo and Cruise owners and stakeholders. He made sure to expand the Port so that cruise and cargo operations became what they are today.
Intermar started with just three team members 40 years ago. This quickly became 10, and the company now employs around 150 people. Pelgrim also founded St. Maarten Shipping & Stevedoring NV, and in 2005 acquired CPC/ Nichirei Carib Corp NV, now doing business as I.C.C. Cargo, from the Japanese company he used to work for so many years ago. Yet another of his companies, SC Maritime Services NV, handles several cruise lines in the Port.
While navigating changes and challenges over time, business has generally stayed strong and grown alongside St. Maarten’s economy. As with every company on the island, Hurricane Irma in 2017 was a time of dramatic change. Intermar, naturally dependant on its physical assets, suffered devastating damage, along with the port. This was only compounded by a fire in the following months, that broke out during reconstruction of the ICC Cargo Building. The company, however, quickly got back to its feet, rebuilding better and stronger, and helping to power the island in doing the same. The destruction was followed by a surge in demand for business.
Current day goals centre on expansion in services, while the most relevant challenge lies in hiring qualified staff that can handle modern, million-dollar machinery. Proactively tackling the issue, Pelgrim started training sessions aimed at the local workforce, aiming to bring the younger generation on board – providing employment and ensuring continuity of business.
By investing in what matters, being open to change, pushing for innovation, and navigating challenges as they come, the company is not just 40-years strong – it still has a bright future to look forward to.
