Genting does not, and will not, have to wait for the Florida Legislature to offer South Florida a taste of its gaming brand. But the U.S. Coast Guard? That's another matter.
Sometime this week -- maybe -- the Coast Guard will give its safety OK to Genting's Bimini SuperFast casino cruise ship. Until then, the ship is going nowhere.
Lots of things have gone wrong on the safety-inspection trail since June 30 when the SuperFast flunked the USCG test.
On June 28 the wife of the Bahamian Prime Minister christened the Bimini SuperFast at the Port of Miami with these words: "I name this ship Bimini SuperFast and may she bring fair winds and good fortune to all who sail on her.
The ship and its crew failed all kinds of tests for operating in emergency situations. A Coast Guard spokesperson called it an overall lack of proficiency by the crew to respond to an emergency situation.
So, the inaugural cruise is a question with a day-to-day answer.
Port of Miami's Andy Crady told Sunshine State News, "This is kind of a shame because, as I understand it, Genting wants this to be a positive experience so the company can make a lot of good friends here."
Ultimately, the company wants to build a casino, but state lawmakers have not given any green light for destination casinos.
With no approval for gambling on the horizon, officials at Genting said they are committed to a scaled-down development plan in the short term. We want to create something thats cool and going to draw people here, Bill Thompson, senior vice president of development for Genting's Resorts World Miami, told the press in March.
The Miami Herald is now out of the Biscayne Bayfront building Genting bought in 2011 for $236 million. The company wanted to build the world's largest destination resort casino on the 13.9-acre site but, thwarted by a cautious Florida Legislature, settled instead to go for a "phased approach" on the property. After it deals with the Herald building's asbestos and completes demolition, it will start work on the scaled-down plan -- to includenew towers on the Herald site, a redevelopment of the historic Boulevard Shops on Biscayne Boulevard and a 50-foot-wide promenade alongside the bay, to include three or four waterfront restaurants.
Make no mistake, plans for the site definitely include a destination resort casino if and when.
In the meantime, the Bimini SuperFast will be the Genting face of gaming most South Floridians will see.
Built in 2001 and registered in Panama, the 1,500-passenger SuperFast will offer two trips a day to Resorts World Bimini: the first will leave at 9 a.m. and return at 7 p.m.; the second at 9 p.m. with a 5 a.m. return. Fares will start at $49 a person, not including $20 in taxes and fees.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423.
