Boatyard Closed!

[Porthandbuoy]

I went round to the yard today, intending to do some work on Ladybird, only to find a new padlock and chain on the gates. Apparently the yard manager was told by the HSE that as Scotland is now in Tier 4 they had to close the place to the public. Anyone else come across this, or is it a case of some heavy-handed HSE jobsworth making their own interpretation of the rules? You can spend all day in a boatyard and not come within a boat's length of another living soul.

 

[[2574]]

I went round to the yard today, intending to do some work on Ladybird, only to find a new padlock and chain on the gates. Apparently the yard manager was told by the HSE that as Scotland is now in Tier 4 they had to close the place to the public. Anyone else come across this, or is it a case of some heavy-handed HSE jobsworth making their own interpretation of the rules? You can spend all day in a boatyard and not come within a boat's length of another living soul.

Which boatyard is that?

 

[jwilson]

All through the original full spring lockdown both main boatyards here in Falmouth were allowing contractors to work on boats. Work on a boat is something contractors cannot do from home, so was within the rules.

 

[[2574]]

All through the original full spring lockdown both main boatyards here in Falmouth were allowing contractors to work on boats. Work on a boat is something contractors cannot do from home, so was within the rules.

Contractors are different from owners though?

 

[Stemar]

Contractors are different from owners though?

Until I print myself a business card, "Stemar Marine Maintenance" to work on your boat and you do "Robih's Boat Repairs" to do mine

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Yards in the Clyde area were closed to the public when the first lockdown started but allowed owners to prepare boats. The padlock on the yard I was at required a code to open which was given. The yard had strict rules that were to be followed, to protect their employees, otherwise access would be withdrawn. It worked well, folks brought portable loos with them and of course their own food and water, and worked away.

The Health and Safety Executive have wide ranging powers and can order restrictions on a facility. Is it bullshit or not? I received an email last June, telling me that the immediate waters on The Clyde were closed to leisure craft on the instructions of the QHM, Clyde. I emailed QHM Clyde and they said the waters were open, so who knows what is true, what is poor interpretation and what is fanciful.

Tier 4 does place restrictions on you, including the travel between regions, you can travel for work, but must not travel for non essential reasons. I would interpret work on a yacht by the owner, where the yacht is not operated commercially, as non essential. Also, considering Scotland is freaking out at the new variant of COVID now found in Dumfries and Galloway, perhaps the yard owners are acting very cautiously. What is allowed and not allowed is easily available from the Scottish Government Website.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I received an email last June, telling me that the immediate waters on The Clyde were closed to leisure craft on the instructions of the QHM, Clyde.

A most odd claim by whoever made it, since the QHM only has powers over a tiny proportion of the Clyde - basically just Rhu Narrows, Faslane, Coulport and a wee bit of Loch Long.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

A most odd claim by whoever made it, since the QHM only has powers over a tiny proportion of the Clyde - basically just Rhu Narrows, Faslane, Coulport and a wee bit of Loch Long.

Your observation is very relevant from where the email came from.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Your observation is very relevant from where the email came from.

Rhu Marina or RNCYC?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Silvers, I wasn’t going to say, but it doesn’t really matter. I am sure it was stated in good faith.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

The 'where' is largely irrelevant. I phoned around most of the yards & marinas on the Clyde and they all, except one (mine!), permit boat owners and berth holders access to their boats, albeit with restrictions regarding toilets/showers/communal areas. I'm not being critical of the yard, it just seems the 'rules' are whatever some passing jobsworth cares to dictate.

 

[WoodyP]

I can't access mine in Wales. Not that I fancy sitting on the boat in this weather.

 

[dankilb]

We’re locked out of our (club) yard in Wales, as per the rules there under T4. It is what it is.

There are also times when the yard has been open, but restrictions only permit essential travel. If asked by police, you’d have to try and make the argument that maintenance by owners is essential.

I co-own a watersports business and so use the ‘work’ justification. I’d have to show business insurance on my van etc.

Haven’t been stopped or asked anything so far, which doesn’t surprise me as I’m sure they have better things to do.

 

[Tomahawk]

One of my many objections to all this lockdown is how it has been used by petty jobsworths to big themselves up. A local plod seargent took it upon himself to illegally close a public highway.

 

[TernVI]

It seems reasonable for people not to want tier 4 inmates wandering around their premises.

 

[ronsurf]

I was under the impression that Tier 4 meant you stayed at home?

But it seems everyone interprets the rules according to what they want to do. Hence queues of cars at the Brecon Beacons and Covid cases here jumping from 200 to 600 in the last week.