After operating for less than two weeks, Blue Horizon Casino Cruises is temporarily halting its day cruise trips from the Port of Palm Beach to fix maintenance issues on its boat, according to a company statement Wednesday.
The 600-passenger Blue Horizon boat will enter drydock for three to four weeks to get two new engines installed. Other maintenance problems that arose after its communications system was knocked out after a lightning strike at the Riviera Beach seaport — also will be repaired.
The company cited safety and security of its guests and staff as reasons for deciding to suspend service immediately to start the repairs.
Blue Horizon Casino had planned to replace the vessel’s older engines in about a year, but decided instead to invest $1 million to purchase new ones rather than face on-going repairs, said Robert Weisberg, managing partner, in a phone interview Wednesday.
The casino boat is expected to be fully operational by Labor Day, Blue Horizon said.
"We will honor our entire staff and crew’s jobs once we are in full operation again," the statement said.
Employees will also be kept on the company’s payroll during this maintenance period, Weisberg noted.
The gaming outfit began day casino cruises from the port on July 17, the third attempt in recent years to resurrect day casino trips from the Port of Palm Beach.
Previous operators faced financial and other difficulties and halted operations after less than a year. Port commissioners recently approved a five-year agreement with parent company PB Gaming Inc. to operate the Blue Horizon.
In previous interviews Weisberg has said the two previous operators weren’t properly equipped to run day casino cruises. He cited a lack of marine experience in running these kinds of vessels, limited-to-no casino experience and insufficient funding.
The 160-foot Blue Horizon — a renovated version of the former Island Breeze II — offers slot and blackjack tournaments, table games, bingo and electronic bingo, among other gambling options.
The seaport predicts it will receive on average $730,000 in passenger fees, an estimated $80,000 in parking revenue and $36,000 in office rent annually from Blue Horizon’s operations.
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