Page 36: of Marine News Magazine (January 2018)

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INLAND PASSENGER VESSELS

Captain Jeffrey Monroe Cynthia Anderson Benny Lendermon

Director of Education CTC, MC, Partner & Head of President, Memphis’ and Standards, IAMPE Marketing, USA River Cruises Riverfront Development Corp decisions about port modi? cations were delayed. Eventu- Another stakeholder, the International Association of ally a riverfront coalition evolved, one which successfully Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) is a maritime advocated for the ship’s call, a development contributing trade group. Captain Jeffrey Monroe is IAMPE’s Director to a series of port upgrades, including new housing and of Education and Standards. Monroe said IAMPE’s mem- retail as well as regional bene? ts: Most of the ship’s wine bership is interested in river cruising. “This is an emerging now comes from Northwest wineries. issue,” Monroe said. “We include it in our inland waters

Daniel Beals is advertising and marketing coordinator training program; people are very interested in how this all for St. Lawrence Cruise Lines. Like Anderson, he is op- works.” Monroe said that US river cruising faces challeng- timistic about 2018. His boat carries 66 passengers; 60% es about how to break out of a historically limited scope, as from the US. Americans, he says, like to visit Canada be- well as expanding territories and improving quantity and cause it’s close, familiar and beautiful. “River cruising can quality of products.

still grow throughout North America,” he told Marine- Monroe cites two basic factors for market expansion:

News, adding, “If people feel con? dent with money and First, new private-sector investments, eventually driven by travel, particularly retirees, it will grow.” bigger, well funded operators. He admits that there is a

Image: Memphis’ Riverfront Development Corp.

January 2018

MN 36