Blue Card

[Norman_E]

I was told today by someone in Yachtmarine that fines of 9,500 Turkish Lire have been handed out to 6 boats for not having a valid registered Blue Card. Gulets appear to be being targetted by the Coastguard. Apparantly a lot of Blue Cards were issued but not properly registered, and I have been advised to go to the office and get mine checked.

I have looked at the pump out facilities here, which consist of tanks on wheels, with a pump and a suction hose twice the diameter of any normal yacht deck fitting. How that is supposed to work I have no idea, but whilst out sailing one yachtsman told me of the failure of his efforts to get pumped out because the pump out station had nothing that could reach into the tank!

 

[Dig]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about this blue card set up,i wish someone could give clear picture about it and what we should do?

 

[Dig]

Just seen this,so is this what its all about,

Good afternoon:

jimbaerselman:The intention is to test the system in Mugla region, then extend them to other Turkish waters - hopefully after feedback to discover what improvements may be needed.

I doubt it there was ever any intention behind the "blue card" scheme except to make some easy money for a group from the Fethiye area. In my opinion those behind the original idea were the same bunch of "do gooders" who forced the movement of a large house boat which was permanently moored in one of the Fethiye bays - it was later moored at Albatros Marina in Marmaris for a while and I don't know where it eventually ended up. I believe that they were so overcome with their own success in this effort that one of the gang suddenly asked the others a rhetorical question such as "what about the gulets, motorboats and yachts?" which led to further discussion and the hatching of a plan which morphed into the "blue card" system. Those who put this system to the Mugla governor were not connected to any official institution and were more motivated by their vision of making a real killing by charging 70 euros for the blue card and pump outs than by their legitimate concern for the environment.

All the details seems to have been lost in the haze of time (and computer crashes) but the governor didn't buy their scheme at first and demanded further investigation only to have the same group return 14 days later with further research prompting the governor to agree and sign the decree - the fact that none of the marinas had even heard of this group or their supposed research indicates, to me, that their research involved only their buddies at the local cay shop and no one that might have put forward anything contradictory to their initial claims of its feasibility or for the benefits this scheme would provide.

When the scheme was first publicized I was invited to appear on a local TV program which included the managers of two local marinas who denied having ever heard of the group or having ever having been consulted as to the feasibility of the plan during the time it was supposedly being researched. One would have thought that if the backers were really interested in producing a workable scheme that they would have consulted such people but no, in my opinion, their interest was more in the money that could be made for themselves.

One of the "big shots" from the group was invited to explain the scheme at a meeting of clients in Netsel (Tea and Talk) and claimed they had invested over $250,000 in software and equipment to support the scheme which is why the "blue cards" would cost 70 Euros. He had lots of rosy reports of the availability of "pump out" stations around the coast and what action the local authorities were going to take to prevent local villages from discharging sewerage into the sea.

He was decidedly short of details as to how 30 and 40 year old yachts could be modified to include the tankage required or how gulets and charter yachts would pump out during "turn arounds". Actually reminded me of a "used car saleman" hi-liting the positives and skimming over the negatives.

A newly painted but old fishing boat appeared in Netsel emblazoned with lots of their advertisements and logos shortly afterwards but that seems to have disappeared over the past year - around the time that official interest in this scheme decreased.

About the only result of this scheme as been that several marinas have made a lot of unearned money (M Yat Marina claim to have sold 1,000 cards at 20 Euros or TL which means 20,000 Euros or 20,000 TL - even in lira this is still a lot of money - £8,500 in real money or the monthly wage for 25 bar staff).

The end result has been a regulation which will hang around for years which did not achieve the aim simply because it was a "hair brained" idea in the first place yet no one will have the interest or "balls" to declare it dead and buried.

Of course, cruising yachtsmen will continue to debate it for years to come keeping it on the front burner and causing a lot of unnecessary worry and concern for those interested in "doing the right thing" and avoiding trouble with the authorities.

Also it will give some harbor masters who feel the need to demonstrate the power behind their lofty titles an excuse to harass innocent citizens even if their demand for a "blue card" showing at least one pump out is easily circumvented by cooperative marinas staff.

Okay, rant over - I feel much better already.

Squeaky

 

[Chris_Robb]

Can we kill this thread please and post on the other one running alongside please - gets very confusing when someone cuts and pastes from on thread to another - effectively providing a clone!!!!

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3821608#post3821608

 

[Dig]

I could not agree with you more its better to use this thread which has been running the story and updates for some time now.

 

[Norman_E]

I visited the Yacht Marine office with my Blue Card which was checked and found to be properly registered. I still have no idea if the pump out arrangements at Yacht Marine will actually pump out a yacht's tanks, given the apparant lack of any sort of dip tube.

I gained the impression that they really don't want to pump boats out. Possibly their problem is how to dispose of pumped water becase the salt in black water (which is mostly seawater) would be injurious to the bacteria in ordinary sewage plants.

 

[MASH]

I have a series of very illuminating photos showing what happens to the contents of one particular Mugla marina's honey-tank. You wouldn't believe it, though it is horribly predictable.

They may get posted here in due course.

 

[Dig]

I have heard that most marinas don't wont to pump out boat tanks because of local sewerage plants that cant take it for treatment with it being corrosive with salt ,so i guess they would have to dump it in the sea or tip it on land. It seems the blue card is a bit of a red herring to me.

 

[liverpool]

Chartering and blue card

Sorry if this has already been discussed but what are charter companies doing re blue card requirements and pump outs? Do prospective charter clients know situation? Can't believe anyone chartering will want to go into a marina every day or two and pump out. Would certainly raise profile of this issue if charter companies find clients no longer want to charter in south Turkey because of concerns re blue card scheme and possible fines.

 

[BeBe]

Rumor with no factual basis

I was told today by someone in Yachtmarine that fines of 9,500 Turkish Lire have been handed out to 6 boats for not having a valid registered Blue Card. Gulets appear to be being targetted by the Coastguard. Apparantly a lot of Blue Cards were issued but not properly registered, and I have been advised to go to the office and get mine checked.

I have looked at the pump out facilities here, which consist of tanks on wheels, with a pump and a suction hose twice the diameter of any normal yacht deck fitting. How that is supposed to work I have no idea, but whilst out sailing one yachtsman told me of the failure of his efforts to get pumped out because the pump out station had nothing that could reach into the tank!

There is no truth to this myth. It continues to pop up every now and then.

Without going into the detail of how I know for certain it is a rumor...please take what I am saying into consideration before you repeat this verified rumor.

Bill

 

[Squeaky]

Good afternoon:

There is no truth to this myth. It continues to pop up every now and then.

Without going into the detail of how I know for certain it is a rumor...please take what I am saying into consideration before you repeat this verified rumor.
Bill

And this adds exactly what to the debate?

Cheers

Squeaky

 

[rivonia]

Good afternoon:



And this adds exactly what to the debate?

Cheers

Squeaky

Bill is just stating the FACTS-as he said IT IS A MYTH!

Peter

 

[Squeaky]

Good evening:

Rivonia: Bill is just stating the FACTS-as he said IT IS A MYTH!
Peter

And the FACTS are what? The fact that someone says that something is a MYTH does not make it a myth. I think most people would decide that his statement is only a statement of his belief. As the old saying goes "the proofing of the pudding is in the eating"

Cheers

Squeaky

 

[macd]

Squeaky has a point.

"Without going into the detail of how I know for certain it is a rumor..."
That would have gone down well from certain parties on the Registration docs for France thread.

I don't doubt BeBe has good grounds for believing what he does. And perhaps he'd tell us more but for fear of involving other parties. Who knows? But surely he could find a form of words that would give us a bl**dy clue? As it stands it's groundless (even if true).

 

[Carmel2]

Who started this Myth?

 

[Pinetops]

Fines relating to Blue Card

I was given the following explanation late October by a marina manager in Marmaris. He stated that fines levied by Coast Guards have to be confirmed/endorsed by the Ministry of Environment before payment is due. His understanding was that the fines were levied on 6 or 7 Turkish flagged boats in the Bodrum area but it was considered that the CGs had been too aggressive and should have just issued a warning, so the Ministry did not endorse them.

Sounds plausible and consistent with the softish approach adopted so far whilst discussions and representations continue as to the application/practicallity of any new regulations to small vessels.

Pinetops

 

[Sybaris]

It is just a rumor but the proof for that is actually classified for national security reasons. Part of the proof can be found at Wikileaks but if you go searching there you will have the FBI and MI5 breathing down your neck, so best just leave it.

 

[Carmel2]

It is just a rumor but the proof for that is actually classified for national security reasons. Part of the proof can be found at Wikileaks but if you go searching there you will have the FBI and MI5 breathing down your neck, so best just leave it.

I heard that a hot air holding tank will be necessary in 2013, can anyone confirm? Apparently the fine is................................................sorry, lost the will to live.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I heard that a hot air holding tank will be necessary in 2013, can anyone confirm? Apparently the fine is................................................sorry, lost the will to live.

Remember not to put your body overboard.

 

[BeBe]

"expert answer" that either/both confirms or denies

Good evening:

Rivonia: Bill is just stating the FACTS-as he said IT IS A MYTH!
Peter

And the FACTS are what? The fact that someone says that something is a MYTH does not make it a myth. I think most people would decide that his statement is only a statement of his belief. As the old saying goes "the proofing of the pudding is in the eating"

Cheers

Squeaky

Squeaky,

Instead of talking about it, if you were to investigate this as I did, you would discover that zero boats were fined at Yacht Marine. It is a myth! So rather than dismiss a lowly Texan as someone who does not know what he is talking about, get off your perch and check it out...you will find out exactly the same thing as I did.

If however, you simply ask people in this forum, I am sure you can find an "expert answer" that either/both confirms or denies what I am telling you.

The choice is yours.


Bill