BW consults on pricing and allocation of long term moorings

A consultation paper, considering the options available for allocating and pricing vacancies – including a review of the current mooring tenders trial – has been published on the British Waterways website.

It is of interest to boatyards, marinas and other mooring operators

Robin Evans, BW chief executive, comments: "BW directly managed moorings account for approximately 15% of long term moorings on our network so this is a relevant issue for many boaters. It is also of interest to boatyards, marinas and other mooring operators whose mooring sites mustn’t be inadvertently undercut by BW if we are to continue to have a thriving inland marine market."

The consultation document summarises British Waterways' moorings policies and explains the framework within which BW must set the prices for its long term moorings. It analyses five options for allocating vacancies, namely returning to waiting lists, adopting the tendering system currently being trialled, modifying the tendering system, moving to open auctions or a fixed price lottery process.

In addition to presenting statistics from the operation of the first six months of the year long tenders trial, the consultation paper scores each method based on four factors: transparency, customer acceptance, operating costs and whether it results in an accurate reflection of the market price. Based on these assessments, the consultation document concludes that the best way forward is to move to an open auction, making it easier for people to decide how much to offer, and generating more reliable information to assist in the wider re-pricing of BW's long term mooring.

Consider the pros and cons of each option

Robin continues: "The consultation is not about how high or low prices should be. Government is clear that it is not British Waterways' place to subsidise boaters by providing moorings at below market price. Instead, the consultation is formally asking our boaters to consider the pros and cons of each option for allocating vacancies and pinpoint where their assessment may differ from ours, and why. I look forward to receiving constructive feedback and reporting back later in the year."

The consultation document includes a feedback form to help readers to respond. The outcome of the consultation, and specifically the chosen method for BW to allocate long term moorings in the future, will be published later in 2008.

For more information on the consultation visit www.britishwaterways.co.uk/mooringconsultation08.

Mooring vacancies continue to be advertised as part of the mooring tenders trial at: www.bwmooringvacancies.co.uk.