Sea Swift (chuck a swifty)

[Stacky]

Sea Swift is pulling out of servicing and supplying Lockhart.

All of us locals have recieved a letter stating their doing this in October. Yep, we got plenty of notice.

They have chucked a little tantrom because our local store has been trucking goods in during the dry for a hell of a lot cheaper. Sea Swift have now threatened the whole community of pulling out knowing they are the only ones to monopolise the transport in the wet.

They were kind enough to say they will still supply us on a limited basis during the wet but it's gonna cost us.

I understand they are running a business too but the store wasn't the only place that ordered through sea swift. Sure, there is a loss but really is it enough to shut down. The school, clinic, airport, council, NP Rangers, police, public and people at Portlands still all get supplies through them. Afew pallets that have stopped coming from the store weekly has made this such a big difference.

I would like to here them justify themselves publicly on this site.

[xina]

I agree Stacky. I couldn't believe it when I heard that, then I thought I must have been mistaken. I've collected goods myself at Portland Roads from them.
What do they think everyone else is going to do too ? People from other properties also usually depend on them for some supplies during the wet.
Definitely a case of sour grapes there I reckon. They obviously want to keep the monopoly going up there.
Very Un-australian. Makes you wonder if they haven't got a Yank at the reins with their "Money before People " attitude.
Cheers,
xina.

[barney]

Hey Stacky - what is the situation with your Av-gas.....aviation fuel - did this also come up by Sea Swift via tank-tainers?

[xina]

Dear Sir,
I could not believe what I was hearing on the news about you discontinuing service to Lockhart River. If you can't stand the small amount of competition you now have from Road Transport to Lockhart, then you shouldn't be in business. You don't have the right to a monopoly, and free trade is good for everyone.
VERY UN-AUSTRALIAN BEHAVIOUR.
I for one am thoroughly disgusted. I used to deal with you over 20 years ago. I'll make sure I never do so again.
(Signature.)

[Stacky]

Hey Stacky - what is the situation with your Av-gas.....aviation fuel - did this also come up by Sea Swift via tank-tainers?

Hi Barney,
Yes our Av-gas does get shipped up through 'Chuck a Swift'. Our flights usually refuel here so they stop in another community and collect or drop passengers before heading back to Cairns.

Hi Xina,
Thanks for your support.

[xina]

I really did send that e-mail Stacky. Somebody should get an internet petition started. I don't know how to do that stuff.
Did you see the post about the Lost Mines book? Some of them are up your way.
Cheers,
xina.

[Stacky]

It's called greed.
Most, not all, of the businesses are government funded in the communities and chuck a swift would be well aware of this knowing there is no problems with recieving payments.
I wouldn't be able to imaging the amount the government pays to chuck a swift each month after servicing all the Gov businesses in the Cape.

If the Gov, thought outside the square then they would most likely find it would be cheaper to create their own shipping supply service. Think of the jobs it would create, the consistency in procedures they would abide by and best of all chuck a swift would have competition and probably get the a*se.

But hey, who's actually gonna do anything about in the government, it's not like the money is coming out of their back pocket or those big wigs don't live up here see and experience what we all have to deal with.

Hi Xina,
I had noticed that book, it looks interesting. I will google it.

[yetti]

stacky,

nicely said....don't start me on beauracracy (or spelling). Ant has heard my opinion on this subject, and almost saw me dealing with it a cuppla weeks ago.

that however, is another story...

the sea swift thing sucks. hopefully a few businesses up here are looking at getting their own trucks, and doing the trip once a month. i for one will be paying them before sea slug.

cheers

[xina]

It's just a crying shame they've had no competition over the years. It's just not good enough, is it? When we left Portland Roads we sent some things down with them. I lost a carton of books I've never been able to replace. Old ones about South America, including the Fawcett one. Cheers, xina.

[geoffjy]

It's just a crying shame they've had no competition over the years Geoff. It's just not good enough, is it?
When we left Portland Roads we sent some things down with them. I lost a carton of books I've never been able to replace. Old ones about South America, including the Fawcett one.
Cheers,
xina.

Back in 2000 we sent our Hilux up from Cairns to Horn Island. It didnt arrive and it turned out it was sent out to Murray Island. As you can imagine, we were happy about that.

[xina]

Back in 2000 we sent our Hilux up from Cairns to Horn Island. It didnt arrive and it turned out it was sent out to Murray Island. As you can imagine, we were happy about that.

You should be able to get some sort of legal redress when they so obviously don't care about Customer Service. In your case, it's your living they're intefering with.

Cheers,
xina.

[geoffjy]

You should be able to get some sort of legal redress when they so obviously don't care about Customer Service. In your case, it's your living they're intefering with.

Cheers,
xina.

If they had of damaged the car we would done something, other than that though, we were happy to get it back in one piece. I have heard stories about stuff that goes out to the outer islands. Not sure if its true or not. Just rumours.

[Scorcher]

Good to see Seaswift is still in form.

They rang me up at one of our other businesses up here on Tuesday and asked if they had delivered a container full of stock. I told him we hadnt recieved anything and his reply was "oh well, we forgot to unload it and its gone back to Cairns and wont be up until the following week".

What a bunch of idiots. They should have it on their manifests whether it has been received on the loading dock and they should have no need what so ever to ring us and find out.

In the container were 58 cartons of stock for the shop.

Geoff,

Just wait until they try to charge you for the extra return trip to Cairns.... :(

[geoffjy]

Geoff,

Just wait until they try to charge you for the extra return trip to Cairns.... :(

I had a similar problem with stock and they tried that about 2 months ago. It was quickly corrected though which was good.

[Stacky]

If they had of damaged the car we would done something, other than that though, we were happy to get it back in one piece. I have heard stories about stuff that goes out to the outer islands. Not sure if its true or not. Just rumours.

Teachers that moved up to Lockhart here at the start of the year had their stuff delivered to some island in the strait that i hadn't heard of. It took 3 weeks to get it back down to Lockhart.

We have just had our stuff moved by Sea slugs from Lockhart last sunday (special order just for us, i felt priviliged but i am still concerned). Fingers crossed, it's sitting at Horn island in a compound (so i've been told) until we arrive next sunday. Then if Sea slugs can get it right we'll have it delivered in Bamaga monday and move in to new res.

I think it's gonna take more than crossing fingers.

[geoffjy]

Teachers that moved up to Lockhart here at the start of the year had their stuff delivered to some island in the strait that i hadn't heard of. It took 3 weeks to get it back down to Lockhart.

We have just had our stuff moved by Sea slugs from Lockhart last sunday (special order just for us, i felt priviliged but i am still concerned). Fingers crossed, it's sitting at Horn island in a compound (so i've been told) until we arrive next sunday. Then if Sea slugs can get it right we'll have it delivered in Bamaga monday and move in to new res.

I think it's gonna take more than crossing fingers.

I doubt you will get it delivered Monday. Tuesday is when all our stock arrives. They deliver to all the supermarkets first on Monday.

[Scorcher]

Teachers that moved up to Lockhart here at the start of the year had their stuff delivered to some island in the strait that i hadn't heard of. It took 3 weeks to get it back down to Lockhart.

We have just had our stuff moved by Sea slugs from Lockhart last sunday (special order just for us, i felt priviliged but i am still concerned). Fingers crossed, it's sitting at Horn island in a compound (so i've been told) until we arrive next sunday. Then if Sea slugs can get it right we'll have it delivered in Bamaga monday and move in to new res.

I think it's gonna take more than crossing fingers.

Hey Stacky,

Fingers and toes crossed on that one I reckon !

Btw, to keep whetting our appetite on Lockhart fishing reports, is there anybody there that you can rope in to pick up where you leave off, and report regularly on this site??

I'm sure that I speak for many of us on here, that don't have the privilege of living up on the Cape, that we really appreciate yours, Geoff's & others inputs in this area.

It only serves to make us want to go back again.....and again.....and again !

Look forward to seeing your future collaborations with Geoff up at Bamaga & surrounds.

Scorcher

[Stacky]

HMMMMM,

Someone as reliable, honest, informative and good looking as me.

Geez it's gonna be difficult to find that sort of replacement.

Just kidding....there are a lot of people here in Lockhart that would know more than me. Getting them on here might be the problem.

I'll mention it.

[geoffjy]

I just read today Stacky that Seaswift in negotiations with the Lockhart Council is going to continue to provide barge services until the end of this wet season. After this they are not sure what is going to happen.

[Stacky]

They have been in negotiations since the time i left or earlier and although a decision hadn't been made at that time, it was looking as though Sea Swift was gonna hang around for a bit but they didn't forget to mention that costs will go up to cover their losses if they do stay which is fair enough i guess.
Unfortunately Lockhart community can't argue with that because there is no other way to get supplies.

I'm glad i don't have to fill up 2 big diesel tanks in Lockhart about now.