I have just received an email from CRT cancelling our booked passage down into Liverpool Docks. Apparently there is green blue algae in one of the docks. This is in addition to the closure later in May for scheduled work in the docks. I know this is beyond CRT’s control, but having a mooring on the Leigh Branch is a bit restricting at the moment (as well as last year). The Bridgewater breach,  regular closures of the Wigan Flight, the Leigh Branch breach last autumn (another cancelled Liverpool Link trip) and the uncertainty of water levels and closure of the Macclesfield is all very depressing.

We are currently in Salterhouse Dock and got a call yesterday telling us we need to leave on Wednesday (we were booked in until Saturday when we have crew coming).  I assume it is in one of the docks nearer the link because we saw rowers yesterday evening and moving us seems likely to spread it further rather than helping.

Algal blooms are very unusual this early in the year - has it been very warm in Liverpool this Spring, or is there warm water flowing in?  Also, it requires extra nutrients to occur. If it is only in one of the docks, I would have thought it merits investigation for illegal discharges.

10 hours ago, Derek Porteous said:

 but having a mooring on the Leigh Branch is a bit restricting at the moment (as well as last year). The Bridgewater breach,  regular closures of the Wigan Flight, the Leigh Branch breach last autumn (another cancelled Liverpool Link trip) and the uncertainty of water levels and closure of the Macclesfield is all very depressing.

You are not kidding- Ashton Canal closed at the minute too..

Hi everyone, 

 

Might not be the best place but I need advice - I’m 22 and live on Salthouse Docks on my 55ft Narrowboat. 
I’ve had a Boat Safety Inspection booked since February, due for May, but they have closed the locks due to Blue Algae. 
My Boat Safety Examiner claims that Salthouse Docks is too far to travel, and online, there aren’t any examiners in Liverpool City Centre. 
 

Upon enquiry, since the lock closure now goes beyond when my certificate will expire - the CRT have said that even when the locks open, I will not have adequate documentation to leave through the locks. 

This is despite the fact that I had pre booked my inspection for May, and I would already be on the canal now if not for lock closures. I booked it way in advance, as instructed, but have been delayed by lock closures now for 3 months, and I cannot leave. 

To add insult to injury, the mooring fees increase this August, and I planned to leave as I cannot afford to pay the increased fee. 
I’m worried that I will be restricted from leaving due to an expired BSS, and will be forced to pay an extortionate mooring fee that I can’t afford. 
I handed my notice in for August, because I cannot afford the rent, but it seems I now will be stuck here and be forced to pay it. 
what do I do? Has anyone been restricted from leaving their mooring in the past? 
 

thanks. 

A search to find an examiner shows 15 for Merseyside

Or you could ask at the Marina who they use.

3 hours ago, Pie Eater said:

A search to find an examiner shows 15 for Merseyside

Hi, 

Yes but when you go further you will see all the examiners are not in Liverpool. The closest is Chorley, and we arranged to meet halfway at Scarisbrick Marina. 
Checking for examiners was my first choice before posting here. 👍

3 hours ago, pearley said:

Or you could ask at the Marina who they use.

 

3 hours ago, pearley said:

Or you could ask at the Marina who they use.

“Can’t remember at the top of my head. They’re really expensive and hard to come by” - Liverpool Marina. 

Edited July 10Jul 10 by FUGGLES

Are there none round Chester? I used to moor near Ellesmere Port and never had a problem. You're only the othe end of the tunnel.

15 hours ago, FUGGLES said:

Hi, 

Yes but when you go further you will see all the examiners are not in Liverpool. The closest is Chorley, and we arranged to meet halfway at Scarisbrick Marina. 
Checking for examiners was my first choice before posting here. 👍

I think you are quite incorrect there. i know of at least one much closer than chorley. Suggest you start ringing round the other 14..... and then there is Arthur's very sensible suggestion....

 

Not surprised at the Liverpool marina response they aren't known for being helpful... or cheap!

Thanks for your response. It would be really helpful if you could pass over their contact details if you know they cover the Liverpool City Area, if you still know them. 

Before I came to the forum, I made enquiries with most of the examiners online - and most that are available claim the distance to L1 Docks is too far. 
It’s why I planned to go to Scarisbrick, as it was a middle point - and I am also getting blacked there in September so it was ideal.

If you know anyone in particular I’d be very grateful. 
Thanks
 

Edited July 11Jul 11 by FUGGLES

17 hours ago, FUGGLES said:

Yes but when you go further you will see all the examiners are not in Liverpool. The closest is Chorley,

I see examiners in Warrington and St Helens, both closer than Chorley (and some don't give their location). Add in Cheshire and you get several more examiners who claim to cover Merseyside.

I suspect one issue that may put examiners off is parking around Salthouse Dock. My guess is you don't have any dedicated parking space, and the public parking is expensive and/or time limited. So why not offer to pay the examiner's parking separately, in addition to the BSS fee?

22 hours ago, FUGGLES said:

Hi everyone, 

 

Might not be the best place but I need advice - I’m 22 and live on Salthouse Docks on my 55ft Narrowboat. 
I’ve had a Boat Safety Inspection booked since February, due for May, but they have closed the locks due to Blue Algae. 
My Boat Safety Examiner claims that Salthouse Docks is too far to travel, and online, there aren’t any examiners in Liverpool City Centre. 
 

Upon enquiry, since the lock closure now goes beyond when my certificate will expire - the CRT have said that even when the locks open, I will not have adequate documentation to leave through the locks. 

This is despite the fact that I had pre booked my inspection for May, and I would already be on the canal now if not for lock closures. I booked it way in advance, as instructed, but have been delayed by lock closures now for 3 months, and I cannot leave. 

To add insult to injury, the mooring fees increase this August, and I planned to leave as I cannot afford to pay the increased fee. 
I’m worried that I will be restricted from leaving due to an expired BSS, and will be forced to pay an extortionate mooring fee that I can’t afford. 
I handed my notice in for August, because I cannot afford the rent, but it seems I now will be stuck here and be forced to pay it. 
what do I do? Has anyone been restricted from leaving their mooring in the past? 
 

thanks. 

UPDATE; thanks for the many responses. 
 

if anyone has any advice other than what I have already tried before coming to this forum (contacting examiners in St Helens, Cheshire, Chorley etc) it would be great - as of course I have tried other examiners in the surrounding area. 
 

if anyone has any contacts or recommendations for an examiner that will come to Liverpool Docks, that would be great. 
 

3 hours ago, FUGGLES said:

Thanks for your response. It would be really helpful if you could pass over their contact details if you know they cover the Liverpool City Area, if you still know them. 

Before I came to the forum, I made enquiries with most of the examiners online - and most that are available claim the distance to L1 Docks is too far. 
It’s why I planned to go to Scarisbrick, as it was a middle point - and I am also getting blacked there in September so it was ideal.

If you know anyone in particular I’d be very grateful. 
Thanks
 

Well its 20 miles for Nigel at Thorn Marine 

Robert Burton marine, he's based in Dumfries area but travels . He did ours a couple of years ago £250  then.

Can’t help re. BSS inspectors but it’s an interesting point about the mooring fee increase.

 

You: I can’t afford the new mooring fees and want leave.

CRT: You are not allowed to leave due to some algae.

 

Hmm, sounds a bit like extortion to me! If you are not allowed to leave by the time the mooring fee increases comes. I would continue to pay at the old rate and tell them to take you to court. However probably a reasonable and polite conversation with someone in a CRT office  could resolve the problem amicably.

 

18 minutes ago, Adam said:

Robert Burton marine, he's based in Dumfries area but travels . He did ours a couple of years ago £250  then.

 

Its a very strange thing, the psychology of pricing.

 

I work in a parallel business (gas engineering) and I get enquiries from 100 miles away routinely. I happily quote people £750 or £1000 to travel long distances to do jobs that a local bod might charge £120 and still they accept, sometimes.

 

Weird, but I'm happy to spend half a day travelling to do an hour's work provided the customer is happy to pay for my time spent travelling there and back (as well as time on site). Don't confuse a mileage charge with an hourly labour rate for driving to replace their loss of income they might earn working locally. Offering (a lot) more money to a distant BSS bod for travelling may well result in one accepting the proposal. 

Liverpool Link bookings back up today. I have booked for middle of August. Hope they have the weed issues sorted by then.