In his
brief life, Edward Buncamper managed to become a significant asset to
the island shipping Industry. As an entrepreneur, agent, developer,
and owner, Edward participated in the development of St. Maarten as
a leading port in the region.
Born on
April 12,1949, Edward developed a taste for the sea at an early age.
At sixteen, he left school and began working at the former St. Maarten
Harbour & Transportation Corporation as a clerk. In executing his duties,
Edward was exposed to the complexities within the shipping industry
that he would later seemingly control. In 1968 Edward founded his first
agency with the now-defunct Pan-Atlantic Lines as his first client.
In those days, Pan-Atlantic Lines was the premier shipping line calling
at the Great Bay Port. Over the years, Edward represented many shipping
lines that called into St. Maarten and the neighboring islands. Among
them were Tropical Shipping Lines, Nopal, CGM, Techmarine, Saquenay
Shipping, Atlantic Lines, Flota Mercante Gran Columbiana Lines, and
Caribbean Shipping to name a few. Edward also expanded his agency by
representing Cruise Lines. Amongst the lines handled by him were Carnival
Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and other
seasonal lines, as well as commercial and private owned pleasure boats.
Although
agency representation was the core of his business, Edward branched
out and either founded or became involved in businesses which both directly
and indirectly impacted the local shipping industry. Among these ventures,
he was involved in the establishing of ferry services and day cruises
for cruise ship passengers. Many folks can still recall the good old
days on board the Yellow Bird, the Vanessa, and the Alizur.
Amarillo,
and the ever popular Polaris, to name a few. He also represented several
oil companies which drilled off the Saba bank, offered ship chancellery
services, and was also an owner and a representative for several cement
companies with operations in Saba, St. Maarten, and Puerto Rico,
With the
granting of water rights to the Great Bay Harbour in 1976, Edward was
also one of the first to create a local shipping company which imported
and exported through the use of his own fleet of vessels, tugs, and
barges. By establishing connections between St. Maarten and other destinations,
such as Dominica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Saba St. Eustatius, Anguilla
and many more. Edward was able to create a presence for St. Maarten
regionally. To this day only the island territory of St. Maarten and
Edward's company possesses these rights.
Edward
was not limited to shipping only. In his quest to offer additional services,
he founded an air transportation company. In realizing the similarities
between the importance of sea port services and airport services, Edward
was able to offer local and international clients options with moving
goods to and from St. Maarten.
Tragically,
Edward passed away on December 31, 1990 at the young age of 41. In his
lifetime, Edward was able to increase the awareness of the island as
a whole and its shipping industry in particular. Personally involved
in developments in the Real Estate, Transportation, Tourism, and Import
& Export sectors on St. Maarten and neighboring islands. Edward was
indirectly responsible for the development of St.Maarten into what it
has become today. Undeniably, Edward Francis Buncamper was a pioneer
in the local shipping industry whose Contributions to St. Maarten will
never be forgotten.
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