MDL Chatham, Thanks for nothing....

[david_steward]

Another sorry tale of breathtaking incompetance in the marine industry.

Two weeks ago I contacted the office staff at MDL Chatham Marina to arrange a lift out for my Princess 46 sportscruiser and 10 days ashore.

After much discussion we agreed a timetable and price. I also mentioned that I would be having all of the old antifoul removed using a slurry blasting contractor. I mentioned the slurry blasting on several occasions

We motored down the River Medway on Wednesday for the appointed lift at 2 pm. Upon entering the lock we were told that it was too windy for the lift and could we tie up and come back later.

We obliged and went home to await a call. The wind blew unabated for the rest of Wednesday, so I phoned and they said we would be lifted first on Thursday. After I put the phone down I thought that no one there must have looked at the forecast!!!

Thursday dawned with a full gale. There may be a chance this afternoon they said. Needless to say that it was no go again. Two days off work now waiting around.

Friday dawned with much less wind and blue skies. My promised 0830 call never came. I phoned them at 0900 to be told that our boat was too big for them to transport around their yard so they would have to lift it then put it straight down in their lifting area. Sadly they couldn't do this untill Monday.

Thats a shame coz I am away most of next week. Will the slurry blast contractor still be able to get access I enquired?

Their reply was staggering.

Sorry sir, slurry blasting is not allowed on this site!!!!!

It's not us they wailed but the owners of the land won't allow it. Incredibly, they will allow dry sanding of antifoul and the poisoning of every one down wind. But not a professional antifoul removal inside a sheeted off area with all of the waste being removed.

Three days off work now, and I have had to remove the boat from Chatham and take it back to it's home.

They knew for nearly two weeks of my intentions, and I mentioned it to several people in their office.

Thanks for wasting my time.





<hr width=100% size=1>We don't want a sports cruiser, totally impractical. Err ok then.

Dave S

 

[gjgm]

well, I m not sure even the mighty MDL is in control of the weather, and in fairness to forecasts,they are guides to general areas. If MDL had so "no" in advance, and then it was calm at the lift, you would have been equally pee,d off, I guess.
However, since you mentioned the slurry contractor several times, its certainly frustrating to now find out you cant use him (not that you ve been able to anyway!)
But take it up with the manager. MDL managers are now much more internally liable for running the marinas successfully, so consider what would fairly make up for the story so far. Mess ups happen; its the response that counts?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[gjgm]

well, I m not sure even the mighty MDL is in control of the weather, and in fairness to forecasts,they are guides to general areas. If MDL had so "no" in advance, and then it was calm at the lift, you would have been equally pee,d off, I guess.
However, since you mentioned the slurry contractor several times, its certainly frustrating to now find out you cant use him (not that you ve been able to anyway!)
But take it up with the manager. MDL managers are now much more internally liable for running the marinas successfully, so consider what would fairly make up for the story so far. Mess ups happen; its the response that counts?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[david_steward]

I don't blame them for the weather, just the fact that I was on standby all day Thursday when it was obvious that it would be a no go.

Also I have had to chase them all of the time, if I hadn't I would still be sat at home today, waiting for a call.

I blame them for not knowing the maximum size of boat they can readily lift, and for taking three days with it in their marina to realize that mine would be a problem.




<hr width=100% size=1>We don't want a sports cruiser, totally impractical. Err ok then.

Dave S

 

[Canboria]

Dave, have you tried Gillingham Marina 01634 280022 or Medway Bridge Marina 01634 843576 both near by and may be able to assist, Gillingham has 2 large travel hoists and not so bothered by the winds.

Have you spoken to the Manager at Chatham Dan McKiernan normally very helpful


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[david_steward]

I tried both Gillingham and Medway Bridge, before going into Chatham.

Medway Bridge need very large tides to operate their 2nd slip, only around one per month. Gillingham unable to help until April.

So we will take the boat to Ramsgate.




<hr width=100% size=1>We don't want a sports cruiser, totally impractical. Err ok then.

Dave S

 

[Jon_Eads]

David,

Sorry to read your post and to learn of the delays you have encountered this week because of the weather. Whilst we try to control wind and tide, we still have some way to go…

With regard to the blasting, we had know prior idea that you wished to slurry blast the bottom of your boat until today, so we were caught by surprise. The land at Chatham Maritime Marina (i.e. the boatyard) is owned by SEEDA, and as such they are very concerned about contamination which may prejudice or cause issues with future development. We have called them specifically about your vessel as to whether or not you could undertake the work as a one off. However, the answer regrettably was no…

Dan and the Chatham team do not under any circumstances want to cause you any inconvenience and they are genuinely sorry you have had this problem. I will ask Dan to contact you again to see what else might be done to help you out in the short term.

Regards

Jon Eads
Marina Director
MDL




<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Fair play to you for sticking your head above the parapet

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ccscott49]

It`s his job to stick his head above the parapet! The buck stops at his desk. But he is at least carrying on what John Watson started. Some people in the boating industry could learn from him.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[david_steward]

I thank you for your response, and of course fully realise that the we are all subject to the vagaries of the weather.

It does not alter the fact, however, that I mentioned to at least three different people in the office that I wanted to have the boat slurry blasted.

I would not have come to Chatham at all if I had been informed of the ban.

I appreciate that an attempt was made to allow it as an exception, but the time to do that was last week, not today.

I hope that your involvement will save someone else a similar problem in the future.




<hr width=100% size=1>We don't want a sports cruiser, totally impractical. Err ok then.

Dave S

 

[Jon_Eads]

David,

Thanks for your understanding. Somewhere the message did not get across to us regarding your request to slurry blast. Difficult to comment as to why. We will take more care in the future to avoid the same problems for others as you say.

In the meantime we will do what we can to help you find a solution.

Regards

Jon


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jwatson]

Yes, Jon is a great bloke who really understands customer service.
Best wishes to all,
John - sunning himself in Thailand for a few years - Watson

<hr width=100% size=1>