Newsletter May 2009
Telephone: 2020040 Fax: 2020043 Email: info@dlmarina.com Web site: www.dlmarina.com
Contents: -
1/- Security 2/- Customer service 3/-Weather Forecasts 4 /- Berthing Fees 5/- Contractors – Insurance 6/- Petty theft 7/- Care of your boat 8/--Waste disposal. 9/- Volvo-Dun Laoghaire Regatta 10/- Product / Service Flyers
1/-Security. As advised by individual letter in March the Marina has changed the operational procedure associated with security during the night. Additional camera installations now provide coverage of all potential entry points to the Marina by land. These camera images are monitored remotely. A verbal warning will be issued through loudspeakers advising that the police have been or will be called. Bona fide entry to the Marina is specifically limited to those personnel who have been registered on the biometric security system. It is essential that all berth holders ensure that those crew and friends, they authorise to have access to their boat, have registered their biometric finger print information on the security system. Unless they can be identified on the system they will not be able to gain access legally. There has been one incident in April where an individual scaled the railings, ignored the verbal warning, permitted a further group to enter the Marina and subsequently had the undoubted pleasure of being interviewed by the Gardai and escorted from the Marina. As the nominated berth holder it is your responsibility to ensure that all crew are advised of the procedure and of the consequences of not following the correct procedure. An important part of that procedure is to ensure at all times that tailgating is not allowed.
2/- Customer Service. Recognising the emphasis placed on customer standards and satisfaction for the five Gold Anchor award we have rearranged our coverage by the supervisory staff to ensure that we can meet the demands of visiting boats during the peak summer cruising and racing season. While the security aspects through the night will still be monitored through the camera installation, there will be a Marina Supervisor available on site also through the night to respond to telephone/VHF calls requesting berthing information, the provision of weather forecast information, assisting with travel plans – taxi bookings etc, and the handling of fee payments. The full facilities of the showers and toilets will also be available. Current planning caters for this Customer Service facility to be available Thursday through Sunday nights from mid-May extending to seven days a week for June through August and reverting to Thursday through Sunday for September.
3/- Weather Forecasts. We have been distributing the four day forecast – Thursday through Sunday to those that “signed up” . Perhaps you did not feel it was worth it through the winter. Now with the summer season upon us you might wish to reconsider and we repeat below the full text of the item from our February newsletter. “Recognising the number of yachts that participate in racing on Dublin Bay we have arranged to obtain a forecast every Thursday which will cover the four days Thursday to Sunday. If you wish to obtain this on your own computer please e-mail weather@dlmarina.com and we will arrange the automatic transmission of the four day forecast to your e-mail address every Thursday. This facility will be available immediately – so send us an e-mail if you want to be on the automatic distribution list. “ For general information this facility was used by DBSC for the Spring Chicken” series on Sunday mornings this year and was found to be very accurate.
4/- Berthing Fees. To those who have yet to pay for their berthing on the Marina for the 2009/10 year we would respectfully remind you that fees are required to be paid IN FULL by 1st April each year. In February we advised through the Newsletter the availability of a standing order facility this year in recognition of the financial constraints imposed by the economy. We would ask those who have not actioned payment either in full or by the Company’s standing order scheme to do so without further delay. We will be placing the matter of debt collection into the hands of our solicitors somewhat earlier this year than in the past and would point out that in so doing the berth holder involved becomes liable for the legal costs involved. The overheads of the marina continue to require payment and to those 70% of berth holders who have paid or who have initiated the standing order facility this year we say – thank you. To the 30 % who have yet to action ANY payment we urge you to pay up or set up the standing order without further delay. A prompt payment or a delayed payment can and do have opposite effects on the future charges. If you are one of the 30% please remember your prompt payment helps YOU as well as your fellow berth holders to keep your costs down.
5/- Contractors – Insurance Over the years since opening the Marina there has always been a degree of latitude regarding the insurance aspects of contractors who are carrying out maintenance tasks on boats berthed on the Marina. With more and more health and safety legislation items being brought to the fore following litigation there is a requirement to place an operating procedure and requirement that any person carrying out maintenance work on your boat for which they are being paid shall :- 1 Register their name and Company name with the Administration Office, 2 Submit a copy of their safety statement associated with their work practice.3 Submit a copy of their appropriate Public Liability insurance. 4 They shall sign in and out at the Administration desk each day they are working on boats on the Marina. We would respectfully request that any berth holder contracting out work on his or her boat ensures that either the contractor holds adequate insurance cover or that the boat insurance policy covers third party damage when caused by the contractor during work on your boat. We would remind all that under Operating Rule 1.4.5 the Company accepts no responsibility for any loss of, or damage to, vessels or injury to personnel howsoever caused.
6/- Petty Theft Perhaps in the context of this item, the removal of chart plotters, handheld GPS or VHF units or the removal and subsequent triggering of an EPIRB, cannot be classified as petty. Despite the presence of staff and other berth holders there have been instances of this type of theft from Dun Laoghaire Marina. In many cases it is impossible to pin point the actual date/time of the theft as the loss is only found when the berth holder boards the boat which can be after a considerable period of absence. Marina staff walk the marina regularly each day but do not board boats to check security of hatches and washboards. Obvious problems or potential problems are communicated to the berth holder –bailing, additional warps to replace frayed ropes, foresail re-furling, or sail cover/ canopy cover loose etc. Items such as chart plotters and handheld GPS and VHF units should be removed from view and placed in a secure location within the boat. Such thefts are not particular to Dun Laoghaire and have and are taking place around the country. People have been apprehended and appear to have been well organised in stealing to order. This raises the issue of security again and the process of tailgating which is an obvious function that can and does negate any security system or procedure installed at any facility.
7/- Care of your boat. As stated above the Marina Supervisors walk the Marina regularly and check for obvious problems – mooring lines chaffed, frayed or parted, sail covers loose, canvas canopy covers loose, fenders missing, deflated or pushed up, and open cockpit requiring bailing etc. It is not surprising for us to have to advise a berth holder of such problems and to field the comment “ It was perfect when I was down there last “ . The word “last” can and has a time span of anything from a week to more than two months. High winds and heavy rain are often the main causes of problems but there have been cases of boats springing a leak for many reasons. When did you last check your boat?
8/- Waste Disposal. As part of our review on costs we have taken action to achieve reduced costs associated with waste disposal. We do however need your co-operation in obtaining a better result. All too often the dry recycling bins are filled with general waste or glass. This results in the bin being classified as general waste and therefore charged at the higher rate, likewise mixed waste in the glass recycling bin renders that bin unacceptable. Please assist us in our efforts to maintain the reputation that has resulted in our qualifying for ISO 14001 recognition. We also qualify for the International Congress of Marine Industry Associations’ ( ICOMIA) “Clean Marina” award. We note that there is a considerable amount of engine oil being deposited in the waste oil thank. It would appear that some engine maintenance contractors are servicing boats that are not berthed on the marina and are disposing of the waste oil in the marina tank. We are investigating how we can control this. As a start perhaps if you have had your engine serviced recently you should check that you have not been charged for oil / oil filter disposal. You have already contributed through the waste charge levied and included on your invoice. The contractors are not charged to use the facility so there should be no charge on your bill.
9/- Volvo – Dun Laoghaire Regatta We have been asked to remind that those intending to participate in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta - July 9th – 12th may enter on-line www.dlregatta.org . Entries will close on Thursday 2nd July.
10/-Product / Service flyers We enclose some product or service flyers which may be of interest to you. Once again however we stress that their inclusion with this news letter does not indicate on the part of Dun Laoghaire Marina either support for or recommendation of any product or service covered. With the sailing season now underway may we wish you fair winds and calm seas. Enjoy your boat and what ever your plans, remember to plan safely- It is better to have it and find you did not need it, than to need it and find you do not have it.
Sincerely Hal Bleakley – General Manager
