Genting has expanded its presence in North America with the opening of a casino in the Bahamas, but a key element of the strategy— a cruise ship for whisking US players to the new luxury resort—has hit rough waters.
The 32,000-ton Bimini SuperFast, replete with roulette and blackjack tables, slot machines, a restaurant and a nightclub, is being held in Miami by the US Coast Guard after failing a safety inspection. The 11-year-old vessel, built in Germany and originally certified in Panama, was plying the Greek islands before its arrival in American waters, but it has foundered on the Coast Guard’s more stringent requirements. A Coast Guard spokeswoman said the crew was cited for “overall lack of proficiency” in a lifeboat drill, and an inspection turned up malfunctions in the mechanism that lowers the lifeboats and in emergency sources of power.
“The Coast Guard has provided the owners of the ferry with a list of discrepancies and will be re-evaluating both the vessel and the crew when repairs and training are complete,” she said.
Despite the setback, the SuperFast held its launch party last Friday, attended by a reported 600 guests that included Genting executives, Bahamian dignitaries and officials with the local Miami-Dade County government.
The vessel, which travels at up to 30 knots and is slated for two trips a day between the Port of Miami and Resorts World Bimini, is integral to Genting’s Bahamas strategy. The company has committed US$11 million for improvements to a Miami marine terminal to handle it and will pay the port $7 million a year in rent.
“The whole Resorts World Bimini experience is extended to the Bimini SuperFast,” Genting Group Chairman Lim Kok Thay recently told Malaysia’s English-language Sun Daily. “It’s a double enjoyment experience. This new resort will attract many new visitors from the US and other countries.”
Resorts World Bimini opened on Friday as a joint venture between Genting’s listed Genting Malaysia subsidiary and RAV Bahamas, the developer of the 750-acre complex, which features luxury villas, shopping and dining, a marina and other attractions. The 10,000-square-foot casino contains 15 table games and 153 slot machines.
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