Blue Wave Boats has shut down operations in Seminole through April 13 as a precautionary measure due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Parks Manufacturing, LLC, the parent company of Blue Wave, announced the closure went into effect on Friday, March 27, and that employees would continue to receive compensation and keep their insurance during the shutdown. The following is a statement from Steven Parks, President of Parks Manufacturing:

“We want to communicate to our customers and community that we continue to monitor the developments of this situation, and we are working proactively to keep the health and safety of our team members as our top priorities. The seriousness of the situation and the many mandatory shutdowns in effect around the country have caused many of our major supply chain vendors including Mercury engines, Yamaha engines, Lippert Industries, Patrick Industries and many more to temporarily shut down, along with many of our dealer customers.

For these reasons we will be suspending operations beginning March 27, 2020 and will schedule a planned return to normal operations on April 13, 2020 with continued COVID-19 safety measures in place. Situations are changing rapidly, and we will keep everyone informed should any changes to these plans be required. Our team members are important to the vitality and success of Blue Wave and Silver Wave Boats. At this time, we have worked out a plan to ensure that full time Parks Mfg. team members will receive normal pay during this two week shutdown with insurance intact. Details of this have been communicated to our team.

Some remote staff will still be able to monitor the online dealer portal and emails for customer service needs.

Thank you very much for your business and support, we look forward to working through these current issues together.”

Blue Wave received praise from Seminole City Manager Steve Saxon on the company’s response to the ongoing crisis.

“I am proud of the Blue Wave management team for being creative in ways to keep people on the payroll,” Saxon said. “Seminole has good people and good companies with good management and that is a winning combination to conquer difficult times.”

The boat manufacturer employs approximately 150 full-time workers that will be impacted by the suspension of operations.

“In other areas we are seeing spikes in unemployment claims. Our entire community, our country and our world are going through a once-in-a-generation event. But I like the team of employers we have in the battle against the virus and the economic fallout we may see,” Saxon said. “We have seen the economy challenge us many times. So, I am certain the fear is lurking in the minds of many, but I know we will rally together like Seminole always does and show compassion as we always do.”

The City of Seminole will begin flushing water hydrants on Monday, March 30. Hydrants will be flushed from 9 p.m. – midnight and may cause low water pressure for some residents. City crews will begin on the east side of town and work west, taking approximately six weeks to flush all hydrants.