Virgin Islands professional charter association (VIPCA)
USVI Marine Industry Data Survey
An anonymized, aggregated report on the state of the U.S. Virgin Islands marine sector — employment, revenue, government support, the BVI competitive shift, and infrastructure gaps — drawn from confidential business responses.
Key Insights
A confidence crisis, not yet a revenue collapse. Aggregate revenue is roughly flat-to-slightly-up, but 70% call conditions worsening and no business forecasts moving up a revenue band in 2026.
The BVI shift is the defining external threat. 56% rate its impact 4–5 of 5; documented losses total at least $2.3M across respondents; and marine-service comments show refit and haul-out spending physically relocating to the BVI.
Haul-out capacity is the #1 infrastructure gap. 91% call it inadequate and 63% "severely" — the highest severe rating of any category. Operators report having to take vessels to the BVI for maintenance and repair that the USVI should capture.
Government support is rated near the floor. A 1.7/5 average with 79% giving a 1 or 2 signals a broad trust gap; open comments describe unreturned calls and stalled approvals for new marine ventures.
A thin skilled-trades pipeline. Recruiting qualified technicians and a shortage of certified tradespeople are the top workforce challenges — a constraint on the very service capacity the territory needs to build.
Rising airfare costs are a demand risk. Multiple day-charter operators name flight capacity and ticket prices — not just the BVI — as the biggest threat to guest volume.
Employment & workforce
Respondents account for roughly 530 jobs — a mix of full-time staff, part-time staff, and 1099 contractors.
530 jobs represented
Reported headcount across all respondents
| Worker type | Reported total | # reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time employees | 286 | 30 |
| Contractors / 1099 | 164 | 25 |
| Part-time employees | 80 | 21 |
| Total workforce | 530 | 33 |
Workforce challenges cited
Marine service & repair firms (n = 11, multi-select)
"There are only 2 certified Mercury technicians in St. Thomas." — Charter operator, St. Thomas
Revenue trends
Among the 24 businesses that gave revenue bands for all three years, aggregate revenue rose from roughly $30.4M (2024) to $33.4M (2025), then flattens for 2026. The topline masks the real story: most operators report flat revenue while costs and competition climb, and several sustain revenue only by spending far more to defend it.
Aggregate revenue (band midpoints)
n = 24 businesses reporting all three years · estimated from banded responses
Direction of change, business by business
How each firm's revenue band moved year over year
Not one business moved up a revenue band into 2026, and two forecast declines — a sharp turn from the modest 2025 gains.
Business conditions & outlook
Sentiment about the industry is decisively negative, while feeling about each firm's own next 12 months is split — operators believe in their own businesses but not in the direction of the sector or its governance.
Direction of industry conditions
"How would you describe the current direction…?"
Outlook for own business (next 12 mo.)
33 respondents
The BVI competitive shift
The 2025 British Virgin Islands fee and regulatory changes are the single most-cited external shock. A majority rate the impact severe, quantifiable losses among respondents total at least $2.3M (a floor, using the bottom of each loss band).
Rated impact of 2025 BVI changes
1 = no impact · 5 = severe · n = 32
2025 revenue loss attributed to BVI changes
Self-reported loss band · n = 33
In their own words
"The BVI is 'eating our lunch' in the Maritime industry. It is time for the USVI government to take more of an active role in growing this industry before it is too late… IF NOTHING CHANGES, NOTHING WILL CHANGE."— Day-charter operator, St. Thomas
"While our revenue and number of trips may not have dropped since the BVI regulations… we have had to spend considerably more money (mostly in marketing) to keep the same level of revenue, as we are cognizant of losing customers to BVI operators."— Charter operator, St. John
"A significant amount of maintenance, refit work, inspections, and technical spending stays within [the BVI's] economy. The USVI should be capturing more of that work… Higher costs rarely make a destination more competitive."— Marine service & repair, St. Thomas
Roadblocks & infrastructure gaps
Regulatory uncertainty and supply-chain friction lead the operating challenges. USVI marine infrastructure is rated inadequate almost across the board, with haul-out / boatyard capacity the deepest hole.
Biggest roadblocks
Share rating each a "Major factor" or "Critical / blocking growth" (n = 33)
Infrastructure rated inadequate
Share rating "Inadequate" or "Severely inadequate" (n = 32)
Darker segment = "severely inadequate." Haul-out capacity is the clearest single infrastructure priority.
What businesses are asking government to do
"Which changes by the USVI government would most help your business?" (up to 3 each; 32 answered). Investment in marine infrastructure and a competitive response to the BVI dominate, followed by destination marketing.
Who responded
A cross-section of the small-business marine economy, concentrated on St. Thomas and weighted toward charter operators, with marine service & repair firms and one large marina.
Business type
Share of 33 respondents
Primary island & tenure
Base of operations (32 specified) and years in business