I explain that a condition survey looks for risks to use or value but can’t replace the feelings evoked when they’re on board, nor their opinion of the shade of beige used for the leather trim.
Phil Duffy, Interface Marine, is based in Grasse in
southern France and reports, “In house we use PPE, including masks and gels while on-site in shipyards or onboard. We have all also been tested. Onboard most of the larger vessels over 24m, and certainly the commercial ones, have a COVID-19 protocol in place, including signing in to say that we have no symptoms and enforcement of PPE is in use; however, on smaller boats, it has become rare that anyone even uses a mask.
Travel within the EU by road is mostly unaffected and restrictions on visits to yards differ widely from yard to yard. Some of the smaller French and Italian yards are very lax with enforcing PPE, while several of the larger shipyards have a stricter approach.
We have had to adapt to the fact that many of our clients cannot visit the yacht or attend sea trials before making an offer, which has meant keeping lines of communication open, including real-time videos. The obvious risk is that when the client eventually sees his new purchase, he may be disappointed and lay the blame at the foot of the surveyor! So, the need for transparency and attention to detail is paramount.
As far as the next 12 months are concerned, I am optimistic that the market will continue to be buoyant over winter, but the knock-on effect of rising unemployment levels throughout Europe and the USA will begin to depress the market in Q1 2021, especially in the under 24m sector.”
Operating out of Barcelona
in Spain, Roland Perry says, “Here in Barcelona, a city of densely occupied small apartments, lockdown meant going out only to buy food. Some buildings here have communal roof terraces and gardens, but they too were shut. Police patrolled the empty streets, and surveyors fantasised about the good old days of inspecting black water tanks.
I calculated that walking up and down my hallway 297 times would simulate my normal exercise, and my 2-year-old son joined in enthusiastically. My wife observed calmly, and the people below didn’t complain.
On release, my work diary was full. My first job was a six-hour drive away in France. I prepared the 11 pieces of paper required to prove my profession, reason for travel, work contract, permission to enter, permission to move, and so on, only to be denied entry at the border. The officers eventually let me pass after I told them the truth: a commercial vessel was awaiting my visit before it could move.
As hotels and restaurants were closed, the client had arranged a bed for me on a neighbouring boat. The owner informed me that I could use the bed, but not the bathroom or galley - a problem given the closure of all marina facilities. He changed his mind when I explained I would be returning to Barcelona that night. Having worked on boats before, I made sure that my presence was undetectable.
Work volume has remained steady. Many clients are now buying boats without seeing them first and saying, “it all rests on the survey”.
44 | The Report • December 2020 • Issue 94
When on board, I wear a mask (required anyway in Spain), and wash my hands every hour.
I
maintain a 2-metre distance, explaining I follow Spanish law and UK flag recommendations. My terms and conditions already obliged clients to arrange “safe and secure” working conditions. Going forward, I see more uncertainty, and a greater desire to have a floating place of refuge. Brexit for me is possibly more of a threat to business because of the perceived cloud it places over the British flag as a viable choice for Mediterranean charter boats.”
Reporting in from Antigua,
Richard Watson said, “COVID-19 has made little difference to our lifestyle here in Antigua. We wash our hands, occasionally wear masks, have to be home before curfew and visitors are only allowed in if they have had a recent test. COVID-19 has not gained much traction in the West Indies and one of the reasons for that could well be our outdoor lifestyle, coupled with the tradewind breezes, high temperatures, humidity and UV levels.
However, due to the worldwide reaction, we were all locked down for a month and the airport was closed to passenger flights for several weeks. Since it reopened very few of the international carriers have returned and Liat, the only inter-island carrier, went into administration, so with that and
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