Despite overwhelming support from the audience and praise from the individual County Commissioners, Fort Pierce Yacht and Ship could not sway the county to choose local over experience for port development. Instead, the Board of County Commissioners opted for Dania Beach-based Derecktor Shipyard.
The two companies were the only ones to submit responses to a request for qualifications when the commission sought a developer for the port. During a nearly three-hour meeting, numerous local residents pleaded to give the “home team” a chance to prove themselves. They agreed that the local company didn’t have the breadth of experience of Derecktor, but companies have to start somewhere.
Fort Pierce Yacht and Ship consists of several locals, including Khalil Mack, Mack’s father, Sandy, Treasure Coast Lexus dealership owner Sandy Woods, and Buddy Haack, who has experience with mega-yachts.
Khalil Mack, all football fans know, is the Chicago Bears’ All-Pro linebacker – and a Fort Pierce graduate.
“If I had to make a choice with my heart, hands down it would be Fort Pierce Yacht and Ship,” Commissioner Cathy Townsend said during the deliberations. “And I’m proud to say that because they do give to this community and I have local preference.”
However, she said she couldn’t score the companies based on passion and representation. Instead the scoring had to be done based on each company’s merits.
Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky also supported the idea of Fort Pierce Yacht and Ship being involved, but chose Derecktor instead. “A vote for Derecktor is not a vote against Fort Pierce Yacht and Ship,” he said.
Dzadovsky suggested – and others echoed – the two companies sit down and craft a partnership for working at the Port of Fort Pierce. The commissioner noted that there are another 67 acres left to develop there, representing “significant acreage” for future projects.
Commissioner Linda Bartz, a former Port St. Lucie City Councilwoman, assured the audience that they all thought long and hard about their decision.
“We don’t take this lightly,” she said, explaining that the decision could impact the county and community for decades and generations to come. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s lost sleep over this.”
Commissioner-elect Sean Mitchell briefly addressed the commission during the public input portion. Instead of advocating for one or the other, Mitchell implored his soon-to-be fellow commissioners to make sure that vocational training is in place to train potential employees as well as make sure there are available jobs for them.
Each commissioner ranked the two firms either first or second in five categories: Experience, Financial, Project Concept, Business Plan and Marketing. In all but the Financial category, Derecktor scored better than Fort Pierce Yacht and Ship.
With the decision in hand, staff has since been directed to negotiate a contract with Derecktor. They hope to reach a deal before 90 days runs out. During that three-month period, staff is expected to report back to the commission monthly at a regular board meeting to inform the board and the public as to how the negotiation process is going.
Derecktor’s concept plan caters to mega-yachts, those longer than 200 feet and weighing more than 900 tons. The Fort Pierce port would be the first in the nation to provide a purpose-built facility to accommodate such ships.
The plan also calls for installing a 1,400-ton mobile hoist on-site, which would allow the hauling and service of large sailing yachts. Such yachts currently are largely restricted to European yards due to a lack of acceptable U.S. facilities.
Derecktor envisions employing more than 200 people directly and hundreds more through subcontractors and suppliers. County analysts estimate that renovating the port would generate 900 skilled trade jobs.
Derecktor has committed to moving their company headquarters to Fort Pierce if selected, with a number of key management personnel relocating.
“The yard we hope to develop in Fort Pierce would be unique in the U.S., and be the central component in an effort to make the City and County a new destination for the world’s mega yacht fleet,” said Paul Derecktor, president of Derecktor Holdings.
