Mr. Manthey took the helm of the 180-foot, $8-million luxury dining vessel, Yacht StarShip, shortly after its construction in 2000 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Manthey discovered Tampa in January 2001 when organizers of Super Bowl XXX chartered the world-class Yacht StarShip for the annual Gasparilla Invasion/ Celebration. Shortly afterward, he permanently relocated the Yacht StarShip to Tampa Bay’s vibrant Channelside entertainment district in downtown Tampa. In May 2007, Yacht Starship opened its 2nd yacht, Starship II and in May 2014 added a 3rd yacht, Sensation in Clearwater Beach. In 2009 Mr. Manthey became the sole owner of Yacht Starship Dining Cruises, LLC, which employees 130 people. Recently February 2016, Yacht Starship opened Pirate Water Taxi, LLC a new 7-day a week scheduled water taxi service with 14 stops and (3) vessels in Downtown Tampa.
Since 2001, Manthey has developed deep roots in Tampa Bay’s civic and business communities. He is the founder of the Tampa Attractions Association and President of Friends of the Riverwalk. He is a Leadership Tampa graduate 2003 who also serves on the Board of Directors for Visit Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County Hotel Motel Association, S.S. American Victory Museum Ship, Port of Tampa Maritime Industries Association and Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Pinellas Chapter.
Manthey also maintains many of the maritime profession’s most distinguished awards and credentials. He received two Meritorious Public Service Awards from the United States Coast Guard for participation on the Quality Action Team for Passenger Egress and Lifesaving, and for work on the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Committee. He is a past president and board member of the Maritime Navigation Safety Association and past chairman of the Port Safety Council in his native New Orleans. Manthey is past president of the Passenger Vessel Association 2005 (PVA), a national trade organization comprised of vessel operators, manufacturers, and related service companies (based in Alexandria, Virginia). He has served on the PVA Safety Committee since 1995, as committee chairman from 1997-1999. In 1999 the association honored Manthey with its Outstanding Service Award and 2003 with its Meritorious Service Award.
Much of Manthey’s prior management took place on the mighty Mississippi River. He was Senior Vice President of marine operations and General Manager for New Orleans Paddlewheels, Inc. (where he also served as captain for the company’s fleet of vessels.) Manthey managed 240 people and supervised the timely construction of three large casino vessels at a cost of nearly 75 million dollars, over a 14-year span.
Manthey also managed yachting operations on the Great Lakes in Chicago for Premier Yachts, Inc. As Vice President, he supervised marine operations for the company’s multi-city dinner cruise and speedboat business—developing cutting-edge programs for safety and preventive maintenance, administering capital budgets, hiring captains and masters, managing the regulatory and insurance programs and implementing new operating procedures for the company’s operations in Chicago, Washington, D.C and Boston.
Manthey holds a Captain’s license from the United States Coast Guard as Master (inland) and 1st Class Pilot – Any Gross Ton. Manthey is a 5th generation Captain, whose family started in the Passenger Steamboat business in 1884.
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