miyagimoon
Member
There are various rumours being banded about and we have received a number of e-mails etc. asking us about Karpaz Gate Marina and what is going on or has gone on. I must point out that the marina is lovely, clean, and modern and set in a beautiful and scenic area. But the rest of it well read on.
The below details are based on fact and not hear say. I was there, I was involved and at time of writing I am still there.
On 24th August 2011 a staff member of the Karpaz Gate Marina was electrocuted and died despite efforts of other members of staff and yachties to resuscitate him. Since then all pontoons at the marina have been without electric and water (the water is controlled via electronic valves, no electric no water).
It would appear (subject to confirmation from the official investigation report) that the sub mains cables supplying the pontoon feeder pillars had been installed in such a manner that the insulation had been chafed /worn away exposing the live conductor which ultimately had made contact with the pontoon metalwork. Unfortunately, the pontoons were not correctly bonded to earth and the earth protection relays were not set correctly. The member of staff stood (barefoot) on the metalwork of the pontoon and grabbed hold of the handrails of a steel boat, thus creating the path to earth. One person received a shock releasing him from the boat (he and the rescuer then fell into the water). At least 3 other persons (including myself) received electric shocks whilst in the water and grabbing hold of the pontoon during the rescue attempt.
The MD and another Director of Sea Alliance Group (the marina management company) were at the marina at the time and for a number of days following the incident. I personally spoke to the MD who in my opinion was very blasé about the whole affair but did tell me that the installation had been tested by the local authority and given the all clear just a few days before the incident and that once they had sight of the official report they would hold a meeting with all berth holders and explain what had happened, what KGM would do to resolve the issue and ensure all its customers safety.
On 27th August I wrote (via the Marina Office Manager) to the Directors of KGM requesting various information: Copy of Official Report, Details of Actions KGM will be undertaking to make safe and re-supply, How KGM will ensure access to Electric and Water in the interim period, details of KGM First Aider and location of First Aid Station, Copy of KGM Health, Safety and Environmental policy which according to the T’s & C’s should have been provided at the time of granting the Berth Licence.
After numerous e-mail back and forth between myself and Office Manager (who has stated that she forwarded my e-mail to the Directors on 27th August – no I don’t believe her) to date the Directors have not even had the common decency to respond, even to say they had received my mail.
Yesterday 5th Sep we had a meeting with the Marina Harbour Master who informed us that:
1. KGM have carried out their own investigations and that:
a. Some of the cables are damaged.
b. The Earth to the Pontoons is not correct.
2. KGM will be carrying modifications to the system to make it Safe.
3. The official Report should be issued this week but then it may be next week or even later.
4. KGM will need to review the official report and instigate any of its recommendations that KGM have not already covered.
5. The local authority had tested the installation prior to the incident and passed it as safe to operate.
6. The local authority will re-test the installation after all the remedial works have been carried out and approve re-energisation.
7. He anticipates taking some 3 days per pontoon for the remedial works (that’s without knowing what is involved).
8. He confirms that should all the cables need replacing (quite likely looking at them) there is sufficient cable on site and having to wait for it to be shipped from Spain is not an issue.
9. The original design had the cables enclosed in a PVC trough which was omitted on review by the local authority. All the cables are single sheath insulated unarmoured.
10. The rest of the Marina (Showers, toilets, office, and restaurant) are all still live and working and are deemed safe as the local authority has tested and approved it.
11. He is 1st Aid trained and that all staff will be undergoing 1st Aid Training.
12. The KGM Health, Safety and Environmental policy is in Turkish and needs translating.
We have suggested that communication between KGM and berth holders is improved and that regular (weekly) e-mails to all berth holders (those here, those away and those still to arrive) should be sent out giving updates of the situation and when facilities will be available. (There is still no Laundry, Mini Market, Chandlers, and Travel Hoist etc). I doubt this will happen but no harm in asking.
When we arrived here (19th Aug) we were told that the Laundry and Mini Market would be open at the beginning of Sep, people here before us were told an earlier date. To date neither is open, although we have been told the laundry will open in the next few days. No new date for Mini Market. The Travel Hoist we are informed will be approx 3 weeks, however the hard standing is not complete so at present no where to park boats. As for Chandlers well don’t ask. The nearest is 50+ mile away. Despite what they are and have said the Marina is NOT a port of entry and is unlikely to be for the foreseeable future.
It is my opinion that the electric and water will still not be on this time next month (I’d love them to prove me wrong).
The restaurant / bar are open. Beer 8TL, Wine (glass) 10TL, Coffee 8TL, Club Sandwich 20TL and a Fillet Steak 40TL.
The nearest shopping is in a village called Yenierinkoy 7km away with no bus service. There are buses to Famagusta (6am & 7am going there, 11am, 1pm & 5pm coming back) takes 1.5 hours each way and costs 8Tl per person each way.
Car hire at present is around 15 – 20 Euro per day and only one company(the most expensive) which allows the car to cross the border to Southern Cyprus but you need to purchase additional insurance. You can hire cars (even more expensive) from Southern Cyprus and travel to Northern Cyprus but again you need to purchase additional insurance.
So anyone on route, unless you intend to park up and go home I suggest you slow down until there is electric and water and at least a mini market. Those intending to stay over winter need to seriously think about transport (car share etc.) as this place is very very isolated. Not even any safe and comfortable anchorages that you can sail out to.
If anyone wants any further info by all means contact me. But please contact the Marina and let everyone know what they are willing to come up with. Remember the RATS which the Marina stated were “Mouses”. Well yesterday they confirmed they were BIG RATS.
The below details are based on fact and not hear say. I was there, I was involved and at time of writing I am still there.
On 24th August 2011 a staff member of the Karpaz Gate Marina was electrocuted and died despite efforts of other members of staff and yachties to resuscitate him. Since then all pontoons at the marina have been without electric and water (the water is controlled via electronic valves, no electric no water).
It would appear (subject to confirmation from the official investigation report) that the sub mains cables supplying the pontoon feeder pillars had been installed in such a manner that the insulation had been chafed /worn away exposing the live conductor which ultimately had made contact with the pontoon metalwork. Unfortunately, the pontoons were not correctly bonded to earth and the earth protection relays were not set correctly. The member of staff stood (barefoot) on the metalwork of the pontoon and grabbed hold of the handrails of a steel boat, thus creating the path to earth. One person received a shock releasing him from the boat (he and the rescuer then fell into the water). At least 3 other persons (including myself) received electric shocks whilst in the water and grabbing hold of the pontoon during the rescue attempt.
The MD and another Director of Sea Alliance Group (the marina management company) were at the marina at the time and for a number of days following the incident. I personally spoke to the MD who in my opinion was very blasé about the whole affair but did tell me that the installation had been tested by the local authority and given the all clear just a few days before the incident and that once they had sight of the official report they would hold a meeting with all berth holders and explain what had happened, what KGM would do to resolve the issue and ensure all its customers safety.
On 27th August I wrote (via the Marina Office Manager) to the Directors of KGM requesting various information: Copy of Official Report, Details of Actions KGM will be undertaking to make safe and re-supply, How KGM will ensure access to Electric and Water in the interim period, details of KGM First Aider and location of First Aid Station, Copy of KGM Health, Safety and Environmental policy which according to the T’s & C’s should have been provided at the time of granting the Berth Licence.
After numerous e-mail back and forth between myself and Office Manager (who has stated that she forwarded my e-mail to the Directors on 27th August – no I don’t believe her) to date the Directors have not even had the common decency to respond, even to say they had received my mail.
Yesterday 5th Sep we had a meeting with the Marina Harbour Master who informed us that:
1. KGM have carried out their own investigations and that:
a. Some of the cables are damaged.
b. The Earth to the Pontoons is not correct.
2. KGM will be carrying modifications to the system to make it Safe.
3. The official Report should be issued this week but then it may be next week or even later.
4. KGM will need to review the official report and instigate any of its recommendations that KGM have not already covered.
5. The local authority had tested the installation prior to the incident and passed it as safe to operate.
6. The local authority will re-test the installation after all the remedial works have been carried out and approve re-energisation.
7. He anticipates taking some 3 days per pontoon for the remedial works (that’s without knowing what is involved).
8. He confirms that should all the cables need replacing (quite likely looking at them) there is sufficient cable on site and having to wait for it to be shipped from Spain is not an issue.
9. The original design had the cables enclosed in a PVC trough which was omitted on review by the local authority. All the cables are single sheath insulated unarmoured.
10. The rest of the Marina (Showers, toilets, office, and restaurant) are all still live and working and are deemed safe as the local authority has tested and approved it.
11. He is 1st Aid trained and that all staff will be undergoing 1st Aid Training.
12. The KGM Health, Safety and Environmental policy is in Turkish and needs translating.
We have suggested that communication between KGM and berth holders is improved and that regular (weekly) e-mails to all berth holders (those here, those away and those still to arrive) should be sent out giving updates of the situation and when facilities will be available. (There is still no Laundry, Mini Market, Chandlers, and Travel Hoist etc). I doubt this will happen but no harm in asking.
When we arrived here (19th Aug) we were told that the Laundry and Mini Market would be open at the beginning of Sep, people here before us were told an earlier date. To date neither is open, although we have been told the laundry will open in the next few days. No new date for Mini Market. The Travel Hoist we are informed will be approx 3 weeks, however the hard standing is not complete so at present no where to park boats. As for Chandlers well don’t ask. The nearest is 50+ mile away. Despite what they are and have said the Marina is NOT a port of entry and is unlikely to be for the foreseeable future.
It is my opinion that the electric and water will still not be on this time next month (I’d love them to prove me wrong).
The restaurant / bar are open. Beer 8TL, Wine (glass) 10TL, Coffee 8TL, Club Sandwich 20TL and a Fillet Steak 40TL.
The nearest shopping is in a village called Yenierinkoy 7km away with no bus service. There are buses to Famagusta (6am & 7am going there, 11am, 1pm & 5pm coming back) takes 1.5 hours each way and costs 8Tl per person each way.
Car hire at present is around 15 – 20 Euro per day and only one company(the most expensive) which allows the car to cross the border to Southern Cyprus but you need to purchase additional insurance. You can hire cars (even more expensive) from Southern Cyprus and travel to Northern Cyprus but again you need to purchase additional insurance.
So anyone on route, unless you intend to park up and go home I suggest you slow down until there is electric and water and at least a mini market. Those intending to stay over winter need to seriously think about transport (car share etc.) as this place is very very isolated. Not even any safe and comfortable anchorages that you can sail out to.
If anyone wants any further info by all means contact me. But please contact the Marina and let everyone know what they are willing to come up with. Remember the RATS which the Marina stated were “Mouses”. Well yesterday they confirmed they were BIG RATS.
