| The December, 2007 issue of South Florida CEO, | | | | 2009. The firm is still waiting for final approval for |
| The Business Magazine of Miami-Dade, Broward | | | | the project. |
| and the Palm Beaches, featured an article about | | | | This newly expanded facility is said to bring 500 + |
| Merrill-Stevens' Miami River expansion and the | | | | high paying marine trade jobs to South Florida. |
| future growth of the company. Merrill-Stevens | | | | The state-of-the-art facility will refit yachts up to |
| CEO Fred Kirtland was interviewed for this article | | | | 250 feet, helping South Florida remain one of the |
| written by Jennifer LeClaire. | | | | most important regions for the global industry. |
| The Miami-Dade County Commission recently | | | | Facilities like this will continue to service existing |
| approved plans for a $55 Million expansion of | | | | boats since there is already such a high demand |
| Merrill Stevens Boat Yard that will facilitate yacht | | | | for new yacht builds. The overflow of those on |
| re-fits and repairs for luxury mega-yachts. | | | | the waiting list to have a yacht built will bring older |
| The yard located along the Miami River was | | | | vessels to refit shipyards and have them serviced |
| pending approval from the Florida department of | | | | to be put back into the water, will even draw |
| Environmental protection and two other | | | | additional revenue to South Florida if the yacht is |
| government agencies. The shipyard has been on | | | | chartered. The typical maintenance costs per year |
| the river since 1923 and will soon be breaking | | | | for a luxury yacht range from about 10-15% of |
| ground for this expansion project set to begin in | | | | the original cost of the boat. |