Coping or capitalising, the choice is yours
Tel: +44(0)1590 673312 E-Mail: enquiries@berthon.co.uk
Tel: +44(0)1590 673312 E-Mail: enquiries@berthon.co.uk
May 12, 2020
Download – Berthon Covid-19 Protocol Update – July 3 2020
Berthon & Lymington Marina Site Access Covid-19 Protocol
Update 5a
(July 3, 2020 changes in green; June 25, 2020; changes in pink)
Information for boat owners, Berthon staff & contractors using our marina and boatyard based upon Government guidelines from June 24 and our own Risk Assessments:
Leisure Boat Movements (24 June updated guidelines – see Useful Links below)
In line with easing some lockdown restrictions, from July 4th, 2020 Berthon Lymington Marina is providing a full service for overnight visitors, short stays (up to 4 hours), long term casual visitors (over 5 nights) and annual berths starting throughout the year. Please call the Dockmasters on 01590 647405 or VHF Channel 80 to arrange your stay with us.
Overnight on Board is now sanctioned subject to certain rules below and Govt Guidelines (see useful links below, at end of the document)
You can travel to the marina irrespective of distance, providing you are not quarantined owing to the area of your residence being in heightened lockdown or if you have received individual letters from authorities regarding vulnerable status.
Social Bubbles?
From July 4th you can meet in groups of up to two households (your support bubble counts as one household) in any location – public or private, indoors or outdoors. You do not always have to meet with the same household – you can meet with different households at different times. However, from July 4th it remains the case, even inside someone’s home or boat, you should socially distance from anyone not in your household or bubble.
WC’s & Washrooms
The marina washrooms have a rigorous cleaning routine and will be open for owners and guests late on the evening of July 3rd. From that date and until further notice the marina washrooms will be unavailable between 1500-1700hrs seven days a week whilst being decontaminated; additionally, we are cleaning washrooms regularly throughout each day whilst open.
We politely request that after you have used the lavatory you close the lid before flushing. This prevents airborne particles (possibly containing bacteria and/or viruses) being released into the air. Wipes will be provided for cleaning loo seats, door handles etc, including those at the exit; bins for the wipes are inside and outside the washrooms.
However, we cannot guarantee washrooms will be Covid-19 free at any given time. Where possible and for your own safety purposes, owners are asked to use their boat’s showers & toilets please.
Whilst the dockmasters and cleaners will continue to monitor the washrooms, please do report any situation that merits immediate attention at the Dockmasters’ office (or at our friendly Covid-19 Protocol Centre).
2m Distancing – it is still 2m wherever possible
2m distancing will continue. We ask individuals to distance themselves 2m from our staff and other owners at all times. All piers are more than 8’ (>2m) wide; individual finger pontoons are between 2’and 5’ (<2m) wide. Accordingly, please be alert and move into a finger when someone is coming in the other direction.
Trollies
Please return trollies to the new trolley pound adjacent the Dockmasters Office having first cleaned the handle with wipes provided; we recommend NO touching other parts of the trolley, that are not easy to clean. Please convey this to children.
Security Gatehouse
We have added a temporary security gatehouse at the marina entrance to demonstrate to the public at weekends that we are private property and general access is not permitted. With more visitors seeking a coastal experience in this hot weather, and with the Lymington Market open on Saturdays, we will be speaking to every arriving driver in order to provide enhanced safety on site. This works well with a small number of cars turned away and pedestrians remaining on the pavement. Please inform dockmasters if you have guests arriving in another vehicle, they can mention your name or boat name to verify access.
Covid-19 Protocol Centre
We have borrowed BHG’s boat show trailer to use as a centre for a brief discussion with owners and contractors; 2m distancing is mandatory and we request only one-on-one meetings where possible.
Boatyard Work
We now have 100% of our management team and most of our skilled employees back at work along with 9/34 apprentices and our collective challenge is still to monitor when you, contractors, and we are aboard boats on site. With Covid-19 surviving airborne and on surfaces we have been quarantining boats with a 72-hour moratorium between individuals going aboard. The amount of work and demand for separate skills has necessitated a change in protocol.
Boatyard & Yacht Maintenance & Repair (YMR) Communications
Although the marina office building 2ndfloor reception is now staffed on weekday normal working hours (answering phones), it is still closed to owners, so please contact the Yacht Maintenance and Repair (YMR) team by phone to discuss any work:
Please do NOT approach Berthon staff in groups; single owner one-on-one meetings can occur at the boat’s finger berth or the Covid-19 trailer adjacent the Dockmaster Office.
Boatyard Work Protocol
Thank you to all owners and contractors who have diligently checked in and out at the Dockmasters office, as part of our collective challenge to work on as many boats as possible. We will continue to monitor when owners, contractors, and our staff are on board, to comply with 2m social distancing and either with a 72-hour quarantine period or subject to availability, decontamination.
The above renders the boat safer for all parties.
Sea Trials
We are all aware boats have a habit of hiding problems until the last minute. With necessary parts taking longer to arrive, and labour needing to be allocated carefully in advance, why not be certain that your boat is running well, and include windlasses, electronics and other moving parts within your service instructions and ask us to perform a sea trial. This will avoid any angst after a long drive when overnight staying on board is eventually permitted.
Boat Lifting & Launching Movements
We continue to ask that owners do NOT come to watch the launch/lift of their boat during these hazardous times.
Dry sailing
After launching, boats may be berthed on the north side of A pier to aid ongoing work activities and distancing measures on the yard wall.
Dockmaster Office (staffed 0800–2100hrs by Dockmasters; 2100-0800hrs by security)
The Dockmasters have been working throughout the lockdown and to comply with 2m distancing we have set up a secondary dockmaster reception area adjacent the marina building, thereby providing an area for a more informal discussion with owners and contractors; this enables the main office to continue to hand out keys using the protocol we adopted prior to lockdown. This includes sterilising keys before handing them out and again upon receipt.
Berthon International New Yachts Sales & Brokerage Viewings
Berthon International have a specific protocol for viewing boats for sale. Please call direct on 01590 679222 to make an appointment.
Site Security
During this lockdown (that is continuing but with some softer rules) we have been performing bespoke security checks on boats (often with FaceTime) on owners’ requests; dockmasters will continue to complete their regular site tours.
Quarantine – Boats & Yachts in transit from Overseas
We will welcome any yachts returning from overseas and will assist in their 14-day mandatory quarantine or the balance of 14 days if you have been outside the common travel area and have isolated at sea by providing a berth, fuel, water, power and a provisioning service where needed to allow diligent quarantining for the mandated time period. You can leave the UK within the 14 days or balance of the quarantine period. Yachting has always been a community sport and now more than ever is the time to look after one another. Please contact the Dockmasters for more information.
Arrivals from overseas via Eurotunnel, ferries and airports
As of the 08 June all arrivals from outside the UK must self-isolate at a single address for 14 days or the balance of 14 days if you have been outside the common travel area and have isolated at sea. It is not permissible to visit your boat during this period or undertake any activity away from that address. This does not include arrivals from Ireland, IOM & Channel Islands (the common travel area). Further information under Useful Links, below.
Coronavirus Hangs Around
This is for the safety for all parties and we specifically request owners, buyers and contractors not to make impromptu visits if jobs are outstanding in case a contractor or we are working aboard.
Berthon Sheds
The boatyard-gated entrance at Bath Road will remain closed and access to sheds is for Berthon staff only; owners and contractors are simply not permitted unless accompanied by a project manager. The stores are operating with a closed counter and all items and materials ordered via your project manager for delivery to our Berthon staff. Project Managers can place orders for owners.
Annual Berth Holder Reviews
We thank those who filled in the annual review forms last year. We scored between 8.2 and 9.6 /10 over the nine questions and this year we still plan more changes to ensure we continue to improve where we can. If you have time, please add a comment to Trust Pilot or Google. We appreciate your support.
Useful Links:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-using-a-boat-inland-and-on-the-coast
https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/public-health-passenger-locator-form
https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk
Thank You
We thank you all for your continued patience and determination to see off the virus. We, collectively, now need to ready ourselves for a different way of boating that is mindful of the safety of all boat owners, your household members, and the wider Berthon and contractor workforce, as well as maintaining sensible behaviour afloat to prevent poor press that might jeopardise the gift that has been returned to us, IE going to sea.
