Boat park/storage area dues

Summary

The request sought details on boats with outstanding storage dues and associated civil debt actions at the Department of Infrastructure's boat parks. The authority disclosed that 54 vessels have outstanding fees but confirmed no civil court actions have been taken, explaining that the Department relies on lien powers under the Harbours Act for recovery.

Key Facts

• There are currently 54 vessels with outstanding storage fees in the Department's boat parks.
• The average outstanding debt per vessel equates to 1.6 years of storage fees.
• No civil debt actions have been commenced through the Courts for these debts.
• The Department utilizes powers under section 49 of the Harbours Act to take a lien and sell vessels to recover debts.
• 37 of the 54 vessels accrued their debt during the previous financial year only.

Data Disclosed

• 54 vessels
• 1.6 years
• 37 vessels
• 2021-03-22
• 2021-04-28
• 30 day terms
• section 49

Original Request

How many boats are currently lying in the Department's boat parks or on land owned by the Department,in circumstances where boat park dues or storage dues are outstanding by their owners in respect of such boat storage ? Of these, how many of the owners of such boats have had civil debt action taken against them for the recovery of such dues, what is the total amount included in such actions, how many judgments have been obtained against the debtors and for how much and how many judgments are currently with the Coroners for enforcement and for how much?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/LH/MF Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1717463 28 April 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 22 March 2021 and which states (sic):

"How many boats are currently lying in the Department's boat parks or on land owned by the Department,in circumstances where boat park dues or storage dues are outstanding by their owners in respect of such boat storage ? Of these, how many of the owners of such boats have had civil debt action taken against them for the recovery of such dues, what is the total amount included in such actions, how many judgments have been obtained against the debtors and for how much and how many judgments are currently with the Coroners for enforcement and for how much?"

In respect of existing debt in storage fees for the Department’s boat parks, this currently stands at 54 vessels. This equates to an average of 1.6 years storage fees per vessel. In respect of this total, no civil debt actions have been commenced through the Courts. The reason for this is that the Department has powers under the Harbours Act to take a lien on a vessel under section 49. These powers allow the Department to sell a vessel, then defray any debt owing before paying over the remaining sum to the registered owner. In a number of cases, however, vessels have deteriorated to the point of not only being uneconomical to sell on, but also potentially dangerous as they are no longer fit for sea service. In such cases, the Department would take possession of such a vessel and bear the cost of breaking up the boat. This then frees up space in the boat park to allow a revenue-paying customer to store their boat and removes an unsafe eyesore from harbour property. In respect of these 54 vessels, 37 have accrued debt from the previous financial year only. The Department has taken a pragmatic approach to debt recovery during the Covid crisis, being mindful that not all of our customers are in a position to pay invoices within the 30 day terms. The Department is working with some owners to recover monies under an agreed payment plan. Where the debt is considerable and efforts by the Department to engage with the owner to resolve the debt have not been taken up, enforcement action under the Harbours Act in respect of these debts is at various stages. This can be a lengthy process, as the Department does not take the forcible sale of people’s property lightly.

Please quote the reference number 1717463 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team