Daily News Photo by SEAN McCOY Captain Lee Hicks and mate Lucas Farber help passengers off the Screaming Eagle tour boat in the shadow of a cruise ship at the West Indian Co. dock Tuesday. A new Marine Economic Development Concil will address the needs of

The marine industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands has long clamored for a representative voice in the territory.

Now it has one.

Gov. John deJongh Jr. has signed an executive order which creates the Virgin Islands Marine Economic Development Council.

According to a Government House statement, the council will act as a catalyst for the improvements of the marine industry and to stimulate employment and related opportunities in this part of the territory's economy.

Government House Spokesman Jean Greaux said the membership of the council has not yet been determined.

"It's really a work in progress," he said.

The council will exist within the Office of the Governor and will consist of representatives from V.I. Port Authority, The West Indian Company, Ltd., Department of Tourism, Economic Development Authority, Workforce Investment Board, University of the Virgin Islands and the Governor's Office, according to the statement.

Additionally, private-sector representatives will include tour operators, the diving industry, charter yacht industry, sports and game fishing industry, marine operators, marine manufacturers and operations functioning in the area of marine employment, education, training and certifications.

Erik Ackerson, the president of the Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League, said priorities of the new council will include surveying all marine-based businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands about their economic interests and using that information to chart a course for future development and marine programs.

Ackerson said the group will help eradicate the duplication that many marine organizations have created. With a direct link to Government House, the group will be a means for various marine interests to interconnect.

"If we can join forces and have a positive communicative network set up, that will have a huge impact," Ackerson said.

DeJongh said in Tuesday's statement that the council will be the primary authority providing advice to the governor on the issues of planning, policy development, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the marine industry in the Virgin Islands.

"This council will advise my office in the development of an economic policy and other related programs to promote this vital part of the V.I. economy. Once a chairman is appointed and other officers are selected, the council will be charged with conducting a review and assessment of the marine industry and the economic relationship with the government," deJongh said.

In addition, the council will be tasked with developing a comprehensive marine economic program for the government including long-range improvement programs, according to the executive order.

The group also will work to expand existing maritime education programs, such as classes offered at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School that teach basic boat building and sailing skills.

"It's going to be a factor in the new economic scheme in the islands," said Stan Lorbach, who teaches the class at Kean.

Lorbach said he and others have the goal of opening a vocational marine institute in the territory. Members of the council would help oversee the development of these types of new programs.

Other responsibilities of the council will include consulting with individuals and organizations to gather a broad range of views to assist in the development of the economic policies and programs to improve the industry; studying and reporting on the effect of federal and local laws on the marine industry; and suggesting areas of improvement.

"I anticipate that the council members will also analyze all aspects of the marine industry including other Caribbean destinations which compete with the local industry and make recommendations for enhancing the local industry," deJongh said. "The council will also be asked to investigate, study and report on any area that the it deems relevant to its responsibility of rendering advice to my office on the marine industry in the territory."