Supply chain challenges, paperwork stymied Moorings’ compliance
Challenges with its supply chain and a large amount of paperwork were among the issues that helped to stymie compliance with government regulations for The Moorings and its charter yacht vessels, Vice President (VP) of Operations Peter Cochran has said.
Several of The Moorings’ charter yacht vessels were detained last week for non-compliance with government regulations, while fines above $300,000 were handed down to the company.
Speaking at a joint press conference late last week, Cochran said: “There’s been some challenges, I mean the pipeline to parts and supplies in terms of the post COVID situation with supplies has been challenging.”
Moorings has been complying
Cochran stated, however, that The Moorings is now in a position where it has been complying with requirements for its safety equipment and inventory after having successfully surveyed more than 200 of the vessels in its fleet.
Commenting on some of the other challenges faced by The Moorings, Cochran said: “The paperwork element of compliance has been challenging. We have a fleet of owners that obviously have to supply documentation and that’s been more time consuming itself.”
Further compounding the issue was a very quiet economic period over the past two years. Cochran explained that this lull result in some finance elements which he said added to the lack of compliance.
According to the VP, the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus also ‘took out’ a high degree of The Moorings staff even as it was preparing to go back into a high season.
Efforts accelerated
Meanwhile, Cochran explained that the Virgin Island Shipping Registry (VISR) has also been assisting the company with getting compliance certificates and exemption certificates and said efforts have intensified to achieve compliance.
“In terms of the Customs element and the work that has to be done there, I would say over the course of the last week or so we’ve accelerated that element of producing permits on almost a daily basis,” Cochran told reporters.
He added that the process is now smoother and said the company is working towards becoming compliant.
Hundreds of charter guests affected
Cochran disclosed that hundreds of guests of The Moorings were affected by the disruption, but said a global team was working as best as it could to accommodate customers that have been affected.
He said some postponements and changes were necessary to accommodate the affected customers and said the industry has rallied around and helped with the process as well.
“On an hour-by-hour, day-by-day basis that is being reduced and we do hope to find some degree of completion with the assistance of both Customs and the Shipping Registry in the course of the next week or two,” Cochran expressed.
The Vice President said The Moorings has experienced a high degree of bookings that exceeded expectations for the month of March and onwards and said this is been a necessity for the company to comply very quickly.
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All foreign documents have to be translated now I think. This never happened before
the companies were telling customs this even provide the receipts for the stuff ordered. local suppliers could not met the demand so the stuff had to be ordered. local supplier even inform custom about the unavailability of those stuff and they had to be manufactured.
@hmm – Customs could care less. They only want to fine and collect, fine and collect.
Rules and Regulations are meant to be followed. If Others are being held in compliance, why should those Vessels that are meeting or having challenges be given a Break. If you don’t meet Regulations then you are not within Priority of keeping Crews and Guests safe.
I am sorry I work in the charter industry and everyone was given more than enough notice for compliance. There is no excuses really.
It is very different to provide finance to procure equipment for 20 boats than to outfit 300 boats.
This is Major financing in a very lean season.
What a lie
This B.S.Attack on Moorings Came about because customs and their Bosses allegedly is Upset because Moorings offered their boats for free to Secure the Borders during Covid. The Government is now being Petty like Petty Betties coming back at Moorings because the Former C P new they wanted to Spend Money with the Midnight Robbers.Leadership Really Matters .How can the Head of Tourism Allow this.Simple because he is Walking on His Head. Who will Save The Country from this destruction. STAY Tuned…
@UK Own. I thought that the issue at hand is the fact that some of their boats were not registered. Several of them werent compliant: like failing to renew licences etc. Are you suggesting that Customs should have looked the other way? I understand that Customs drew their attention to these infractions and gave time and extended time to regularise but failed. If you were to said on the judgement seat, you are likely to find God guilty
What a lie
The BVI charter and tourist industry will be a lot better off when Smith and Cochran are sacked and some semi intelligent people put in their place.
Shame on Moorings. You have let guest’s and owner down, big time.
I would have been sooo ashamed if this was my company…