Yacht Firm Backs UVI Maritime Training With $100K Annual Pledge

Paradise Group of Companies has become the inaugural business partner in the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park's Blue Economy Program, pledging $100,000 each year toward maritime training and scholarships.

The St. Thomas-based yacht management and charter operator will work alongside RTPark, UVI and the UVI Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning to create training pathways. The curriculum will span maritime business management, marine technical services, shipboard culinary apprenticeships and supervised sea time for aspiring ship captains.

The partnership was announced on Tuesday, November 10. RTPark's Board of Directors had approved the Blue Economy Program in May 2026.

Paradise Group runs four operating divisions: Paradise Yacht Management, Paradise Yacht Clearing, Charter Smarter and Smart Marine Solutions. The firm oversees more than 70 sailing catamarans and integrates custom software with marine engineering systems for vessel tracking, navigation and power efficiency.

Hank Hampton, who leads Paradise Group as president and CEO, framed the collaboration as a commitment beyond commercial interests. "Our partnership with RTPark and the University of the Virgin Islands represents much more than business growth. It is an investment in our community, our people, and the next generation of maritime professionals," he said in a statement.

The initiative responds to a longstanding workforce challenge in the territory's marine sector. The local charter yacht industry produced roughly $92 million in economic output and sustained approximately 800 jobs during 2024, according to data from the V.I. Bureau of Economic Research. Yet industry participants have flagged a shortage of trained marine personnel, with competition from the British Virgin Islands compounding recruitment difficulties.

UVI President Dr. Safiya George had previously highlighted gaps in captain, engineer and mechanic training, observing that the university's maritime offerings focused primarily on marine science rather than technical vocations.

The annual $100,000 will fund program expansion, instruction and scholarship awards. Identified opportunities include sea time for captain's license candidates and culinary training for charter vessel crew positions.

RTPark Executive Director Eric Sonnier described the arrangement as a bridge between classroom learning and industry need. "Working directly with a marine business gives UVI a clearer connection to the skills the industry needs and the careers students can prepare for," he said.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. endorsed the partnership as part of a wider strategy to grow the Virgin Islands marine economy, citing planned Crown Bay improvements and efforts to strengthen the charter yacht sector.

The announcement did not disclose program launch timing, scholarship or apprenticeship numbers, or participant eligibility criteria.