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LEE MARINE COMPANY
PROFILE:
Service and Warranty
Department
This year we will be profiling
various aspects of our business to keep you up to date
with what each is doing. First up is our Service
Department, the busiest in Phuket, as you will see from
the questions and answers from Manager Anthony ‘Gatesy”
Gates.
Q: What amount of work do you
have underway at the moment and how does this compare
year on year with 2009? What types of boats are being
serviced?
A: We currently have 28 vessels under two
year warranty. Total boat length (put all boats under
two year warranty in a line bow to stern) comes to a
whopping 1,143ft or 364m (not including tenders). The
smallest boat is 18ft and the largest 88ft. The current
job list is seven pages long. Boats this year are
bigger, faster, more high tech and more expensive. We
have had six new boats arrive since November 2009 with
two more due to arrive in the next
month.
Service Department clients generally continue to
use our services even when the vessel is out of
warranty. We currently have in the region of 55
clients/owners that we regularly deal with, as well as
62 Sub-contractors/Suppliers.
Q: What amount of work do you
have lined up for the first six months of
2010?
A: We have a lot of work lined up.
Everything from plumbing, electrical, mechanical, IT,
entertainment, carpentry, fiber glassing, servicing,
carpets, everything. We are also assisting some
customers on preparing their boats for longer voyages.
Q: Are you already servicing
the Pershing 80 owned by Anil Thadani of the
Amanpuri?
A: Yes, we are servicing
the new Pershing 80’. I went to Italy last October for
the commissioning and handover and have been involved
with the boat since then.
Q: What service work did you
derive from the PIMEX
show?
A: Work seems to find us easily enough, but
PIMEX is a good opportunity to meet (network) with
suppliers, contractors and clients alike.
Q: Can you outline some
initiatives you have in the pipeline to further benefit
customers?
A: We have quite a few
initiatives in the pipeline that we hope will help all
our clients have a better and clearer understanding of
their boats. These include six monthly vessel
inspections/reports for owners; on-board education for
owners; weekly/monthly service tips; a new service page
on the website and better scheduling of regular
servicing.
Our team has recently been joined by
a specialist trained engineer and hydraulics expert who
will add another dimension. We will also continue to
offer our hands-on ”know your motor”
courses.
Q: How is the incident
reporting service you have introduced working?
A: Our incident reporting
service is gradually gathering support. The Service
office aims to have better, more accurate service
records and histories on each vessel as a result. We
have introduced new software to help us schedule and
plan more effectively.
Q: Who makes up the Lee Marine
Service Department team today?
A: Anthony Gates : Service
Manager, Glen King : Operations Manager, Daniel
Gisby : Chief Engineer, Boontarika (Ian)
Taradonpipat : After Sales Manager. We also have a full
time Thai Captain and two very hardworking deckhands.
Q: Thanks for your time,
Gatesy. Anything you would like to
add?
A: OK, think of it this way. Modern pleasure
yachts are like their own delicate planets operating in
a very harsh enviroment. For example,
they:
Make fresh water
Treat black/grey water
(sewage)
Manage their climate – hot/cold,
air-conditioning, fridges, icemakers…
Generate their
own power – generators, solar panels, wind
generators…
Are driven at speed by external forces –
Owners / Captains!
Orbit the Lee Marine Service
Department
In order to keep spinning happily,
they require:
Regular care and
maintenance
Clean, cool Fuel
Clean, cool
Air
Clean, cool Water
And love.
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