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The Moorings optimistic of resolving compliance issues in 1 or 2 weeks- Peter Cochran

- said company had faced a plethora of challenges that resulted in non-compliance
Vice-President of Operations Mr Peter Cochran, during a press conference called by the Government of the Virgin Islands on March 18, 2022, said The Moorings should have its issues of non-compliance with the territory's laws resolved as early as next week. Photo: Facebook
Mr Peter Cochran did not disclose how many customers of The Moorings have been affected by the crackdown by Government on non-compliant charter vessels but said it was a 'big number' but it was reducing as more vessels become compliant. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Peter Cochran did not disclose how many customers of The Moorings have been affected by the crackdown by Government on non-compliant charter vessels but said it was a 'big number' but it was reducing as more vessels become compliant. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Moorings, the largest sailing fleet in the [British] Virgin Islands which had a number of its vessels detained for being non-compliant with the territory’s laws, is optimistic of resolving its issues as early as next week.

This was disclosed by Vice-President of Operations Mr Peter Cochran during a press conference called by the Government of the Virgin Islands on March 18, 2022, and included Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1); Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Customs, Wade N. Smith; and Director of Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, John M. Samuel.

Supply line issues among The Moorings’ challenges

Asked why The Moorings found itself facing issues of non-compliance, Mr Cochran said the company has a very large fleet but there was the expectation that it would have been able to expedite the process for compliance but were hit with some supply line issues regarding additional equipment necessary.

He also said the paperwork element of compliance has also been challenging. “We have a fleet of owners that obviously have to supply documentation and that has been more time-consuming itself.”

Mr Cochran said additionally The Moorings had “a very quiet period” over the course of the last two years and so there were some financing challenges involved.

“And then we had Omicron for a period which basically, at The Moorings itself, took out a high degree of staff and we were going back into a high season…”

The Moorings expects to be in compliance in a week or 2- Cochran

He said The Moorings was not to be blamed for the lack of trying to become fully compliant but was pleased to say it expects to get itself in order in the next week or two.

Mr Cochran said The Moorings and the relevant authorities have more recently been in communication to alleviate the problem going forward and the company now has a sound understanding of how to proceed. “And we look forward to that and solve this problem with immediacy.”

Mr Cochran did not disclose how many customers have been affected by the crackdown but said it was a “big number” but it was reducing as more vessels become compliant.

Government in a statement on March 17, 2022, said it had been working closely with charter companies for several months on a number of matters to ensure compliance and the health and safety of the users of the charters.

It added that ignoring the issues could see the territory being labeled as an unsafe destination.

19 Responses to “The Moorings optimistic of resolving compliance issues in 1 or 2 weeks- Peter Cochran”

  • gratitude and common sense (19/03/2022, 11:11) Like (34) Dislike (25) Reply
    Companies like the moorings carried the strain for the country back in the 70's {when things were bad} because they are and still is, one of the biggest employers.....They should not have been dealt with in that manner....They were treated like dogs....One don't or not suppose to deal with big companies in that manner....Its not what you do but how you do it
    • Hmm (19/03/2022, 13:04) Like (15) Dislike (16) Reply
      Its a pity your post is being disliked. The trurh hurts
      • To hmm (19/03/2022, 14:56) Like (14) Dislike (4) Reply
        People hate the truth here
        • josiah'sbay (19/03/2022, 18:33) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
          The truth is no business is in business to take the strain off of Gov; they are in business to make a profit everything else is incidental. I'm sure they had their share of hand out from Gov.
    • yeah (20/03/2022, 00:08) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      Yes, you’re not suppose to deal with big companies like that….only small ones…and ones owned by locals…
  • Wicked dem wicked (19/03/2022, 12:28) Like (14) Dislike (12) Reply
    They push gene changing therapy vaccines on we but was not interested in giving us back some of our own money during the last two years. But quick to jump on a big company that fed hundreds during that scamdemic period.
  • bolo (19/03/2022, 12:34) Like (14) Dislike (18) Reply
    News from the USVI is that foreign yacht crews no longer need a visa to operate their charter vessels within the USVI. Things are getting easier to operate there, and they actually want the business.
    • A new leader (19/03/2022, 15:27) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      will be at Moorings very shortly I am guessing. Cochran hasn't even been here for much of the last few months.
  • Common Sense (19/03/2022, 12:44) Like (13) Dislike (17) Reply
    If the government have been working with the charter companies for several months they must have been aware of the problems being encountered by the moorings, which, being the largest charter operator probably had the largest share of problems. Knowing this and still implanting thousands of dollars in fines is a disgrace.
    • @ Common Sense (19/03/2022, 14:29) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
      They were shown the receipts of orders placed with local businesses. Those businesses informed Customs etc as to why they are taking so long to get the stuff on island. Customs do not want to see nor hear that.
      • Common Sense (20/03/2022, 13:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Absolutely, Customs clearly don’t want to hear, or, address that. They knowingly implement regulations they know cannot be met so they can issue fines, duties and fees, the common description for that action goes by the name of extortion.
  • Hmm (19/03/2022, 13:03) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    One woman from customs already said companies are blaming supply chain. Well miss are the companies lying??
  • hmmm (19/03/2022, 13:06) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
    Almost 220 boats grounded. Each boat have an average of 7 persons imagine how much revenues we lost there. Taximan will suffer, groceries store etcetc.
    • Rubber Duck (19/03/2022, 15:24) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      Its not that hard to work out. A boat typically costs $10,000 for a week. Ground 200 boats and its $2 million a week , plus the spend on taxis, restaurants, hotels etc which is minimum another $1 million. So at least $3 million per week being lost to the BVI economy.

      No matter what they do , the customs and its leader continue to harass boaters and charter companies. Is it necessary to go mob handed with machine guns at 5 in the morning because a smoke detector may be missing from a yacht? Of course it isn't. Its about power and revenge.

      When 300 or so boats move out , which is going to happen for sure unless customs gets a new leader and a new attitude , the loss over a 40 week season will be $120 million.

      That is more than 10% of the GDP of the BVI.

      That means on average that everyone in the BVI will be 10% worse off.

      Roll on the result of the COI and hopefully reform of the out of control customs.

  • shame on customs, shipping registry, government and the whole shabang (19/03/2022, 14:53) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
    Kudos to the Moorings for building the yachting industry to what it is today..... To be ridiculed and embarrassed in this way was horrible
  • Sailor (19/03/2022, 16:14) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
    Moorings should expand their STT base after this disrespectful treatment by VISR and Customs. The sailing is so much better around STT, STJ, Culebra, Culebrita, Vieques, Palominos and the rest of the PR islands in Vieques Sound. The Spanish Virgin islands are similar to the BV islands were back in the 70's with great uncrowded anchorages and beaches. There are no overpriced restaurants like in the BVI but lots of 'familia' type bistros with lots of good inexpensive Puerto Rican seafood. Also there are no cruise ships in the Spanish Virgins so no problems with overcrowded beaches like Cane Garden Bay on Tortola. So when Moorings guest sail out of Charlotte Amalie suggest that they turn right and head west to the Spanish Virgins.
  • just wrong (20/03/2022, 07:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Sailor - Please don't give away "Our" Little Secrets.
  • FEO GOMEZ (20/03/2022, 09:39) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lies. You thought this was your NDP cronies giving you a free pass.
  • musa (20/03/2022, 16:46) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The authorities did notting wrong dealing with the problem dem luckily no penalty imposed


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