Premium tour-charter boats, used nearly exclusively for hotel convention group business in the past, are also available this season for local groups and potentially cruise visitors, the owner of Tam-Marina has said.

The boat charter tour company, which has been running since 1969, has just put the LadyBoats, three fully-serviced and licensed bar-stocked vessels, on the market.

Tam-Marina owner Nigel Prescott said that should he be unable to get buyers for any of the boats in Bermuda, he will have to complete a deal overseas.

And that, he said, would be a shame.

“Of course it would be a shame. These boats are not only fully licensed, but full duty has been paid on them.

“You are not restricted in what you can use them for in Bermuda; you don’t have to use them for charter boats. You can use them for personal use.

“And if you kept Lady Tamara as a commercial vessel, you could easily turn it into a floating restaurant. It’s perfect for that, with a dining room that seats 60 and a full galley.

“That would be great for all the Airbnb visitors. With 14 bunks and seven bathrooms, it could easily be an Airbnb itself. Each bedroom is en suite.”

Mr Prescott also sees an opportunity for the 46-foot sports fisher, Boss Lady, to be used exclusively as a charter fishing boat.

Lady Charlotte, the 92ft 1990 Cheoy Lee Cockpit motor yacht, has separately been the personal yacht for two celebrities.

Mr Prescott said servicing the cruise ships remained an option: “I never had an arrangement with the ships, but the new owner could. Again, the full duty is paid, so these boats have unlimited opportunities for use.”

The vessels became available for local charters with the decrease in group business in the absence of the Southampton Princess, from which Tam-Marina previously derived the bulk of its business.

The hotel closure, he said, forced some charter vessels to leave the island.

Mr Prescott is aware of the small market in Bermuda for such luxury vessels, and so he was prepared to take his search for buyers overseas, although he is hopeful that an overseas sale would be unnecessary.

“We have already had inquiries, but it is still early days and, of course, local people are able to see the boats in operation when they are out on tours.

“I have advertised them in the States and I intended to advertise in the Caribbean. But it would be a shame for them to leave here with the full duty already paid.

“If you bring another craft in, you will be subject to the duty, and that’s a big portion. And once that hotel opens again, there will be a need for boats like these.”