TOPIC:

This is good news.  I claim no credit as moving to an internet control basis was the obvious thing to do considering that the bornes are already connected.  It would make most sense if VNF used their recently launched 'Navi' app to do this and I will suggest it to the developer.
I hope they move forward rather quicker than the notice implies.  It wouldn't be hard to do and I don't now want to bother with a key.
regards
Rob

Thank you to John F for posting this before I had even seen the email from DT Nord-Pas-de-Calais.  And thank you to Rob and any other members who answered the questionnaire back in the summer.  It is gratifying to believe suggestions made have borne fruit (pun intended!)

Here is a machine translation for members without much French:

Ladies and Gentlemen, users of the water and electricity terminals of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais territorial management
 
We would like to inform you that the 7 hydrants located in Courchelettes-Férin will be inaccessible from the evening of Wednesday 23 November 2022 to the morning of Monday 12 December 2022.
 
In order to facilitate the use of the bollards for the sailors, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Territorial Management will upgrade the 7 bollards of this site by integrating them on the Bollard and Water supervision platform <image001.jpg>, making them interactive (connection on internet, on tablet and smartphone).
The pricing policy remains the same. The badge system will no longer exist on this site.
 
This means that from 12 December 2022, initially only transporters will be able to use these terminals.
 
In 2023, the bollard and water platform will evolve and will allow other users (boaters) to connect to the portal and to use the bollards integrated into this platform.
 
After a period of experimentation, other bollards of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais territorial management will be modified and integrated into the Bollard and Water supervision platform. Eventually, the current system requiring the use of badges will disappear completely.
 
We will come back to you to inform you of the various developments.
 
We remain at your disposal.
 
 
 
Nord - Pas-de-Calais Territorial Directorate
Waterway Development Department
Waterway Transport Organisation Unit
 
37, Rue du Plat, BP 725 59034 LILLE Cedex

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Best wishes,
Bob

Received this today, impressive clearly Rob has influence, i hope there is not too much disruption whilst it is rolled out!

"Mesdames et Messieurs les utilisateurs des bornes à eau et électricité de la Direction territoriale du Nord-Pas-de-Calais
 
Nous tenons à vous informer que les 7 bornes situées à Courchelettes-Férin seront inaccessibles du mercredi 23 novembre 2022 au soir au lundi 12 décembre 2022 au matin.
 
Afin de faciliter l’utilisation des bornes pour les navigants, la Direction territoriale du Nord-Pas-de-Calais va faire évoluer les 7 bornes de ce site en les intégrant sur la plateforme de supervision Borne et eau , les rendant interactives (connexion sur internet, sur tablette et smartphone).
La politique tarifaire reste identique. Le système de badge n’existera plus sur ce site.
 
Cela implique qu’à partir du 12 décembre 2022, dans un premier temps, seuls les transporteurs pourront utiliser ces bornes.
 
En 2023, la plateforme borne et eau évoluera et permettra à d’autres usagers (plaisanciers) de se connecter au portail et de pouvoir utiliser les bornes intégrées à cette plateforme.
 
Après une durée d’expérimentation, d’autres bornes de la Direction territoriale du Nord-Pas-de Calais seront modifiées et intégrées à la plateforme de supervision Borne et eau. A terme, le système actuel nécessitant l’utilisation des badges disparaitra totalement.
 
Nous reviendrons vers vous pour vous informer des différentes évolutions.
 
Restant à votre disposition.
 
 
 
Direction territoriale Nord – Pas-de-Calais
Service Développement de la voie d’eau
Cellule Organisation du transport fluvial
 
37, Rue du Plat, BP 725 59034 LILLE Cedex "
 

Rob Dean wrote: Bob,
Do you know the email address for return of this questionnaire please? It isn't on the form
regards
Rob

Hello Rob et al,

Please reply to Christine Szydlowski at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cheers,

Bob

Bob,
Do you know the email address for return of this questionnaire please? It isn't on the form
regards
Rob

Most (all?) vnf offices are now open 3 days a week and since covid by appointment only but it really isn't that hard they are not busy, in our case a phone call (Dunkerque) was returned within half an hour and we chose the time and day. As said they can be ordered online and posted.
These bournes (and the keys) look to be expensive bits of kit and from experience are very unreliable. I cannot see other region being keen to copy them. Nor can I see Nord Pas de Calais being able or willing to invest in replacement with something more fit for purpose. On the contrary the email forwarding the survey implies underused ones may be removed. So please don't respond that you don't like them and won't use them it will not help those of us that do!!
www.vnf.fr/vnf/services/bornes-eau-et-electricite-nord-pas-de-calais/

Martin Nunan wrote: Hi Bob

I think that the major problem is getting hold of the key to unlock the bornes without driving to a VNF office. If they made this easier then the system would be used. At the moment we make sure that we are fully topped up before we enter this area but would love to be able to use the service

regards
mpn

Precisely. I've tried twice (Douai and Valenciennes) but found VNF offices closed or unable to help. They need to make them much more readily available (how about locks?)
Even better, move to a more modern technology with contactless payment or an app such as the Dutch ann/uit app.

I will say this in the survey
Rob

So why not a universal coded key as BW implemented for all sanitary stations back in the eighties, which now also unlocks swing bridges etc. etc.?

Or a card?

Balliol.

Martin Nunan wrote: Hi Bob

I think that the major problem is getting hold of the key to unlock the bornes without driving to a VNF office. If they made this easier then the system would be used. At the moment we make sure that we are fully topped up before we enter this area but would love to be able to use the service

regards
mpn

Most vnf offices are pretty near the waterway, they will also post them though I am not sure how that works with customs if sent to UK!

Hi Bob

I think that the major problem is getting hold of the key to unlock the bornes without driving to a VNF office. If they made this easier then the system would be used. At the moment we make sure that we are fully topped up before we enter this area but would love to be able to use the service

regards
mpn

VNF - Nord-Pas-de-Calais wish to know how their water and electricity bornes are used and have sent the following message along with a questionnaire:

Mesdames, messieurs,

Depuis 2004, la Direction territoriale du Nord-Pas-de-Calais installe des bornes à eau et électricité sur son réseau, à l’usage des navigants. Une étude sur l’utilisation des bornes a été réalisée au fur et à mesure. Il en ressort que certaines bornes du parc, qui en compte 95, sont très peu utilisées.

Afin d’adapter ce parc de bornes (évolution du système d’utilisation, emplacement, puissance, nombre, etc) aux réels besoins des usagers, VNF a élaboré un questionnaire que vous trouverez ci-joint, permettant de recenser vos souhaits et vos modes d’utilisation.

N’hésitez pas à nous transmettre toutes les informations que vous jugerez utiles pour que ce travail soit fructueux. Il ne peut être réalisé qu’avec votre collaboration.

Dans la mesure du possible, nous souhaiterions avoir un retour pour le 10 aout 2022 au plus tard.

Nous vous remercions par avance, pour le temps que vous consacrerez pour remplir ce document et pour nous le retourner et restons à votre disposition si besoin.

Bien cordialement.


Christine SZYDLOWSKI
Direction territoriale Nord – Pas-de-Calais
Service Développement de la voie d’eau
Cellule Organisation du transport fluvial
Chargée de gestion et de relations aux usagers


In English:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since 2004, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Territorial Directorate has been installing water and electricity terminals on its network, for the use of sailors. A study on the use of the bornes has been carried out progressively. It has shown that some of the 95 bollards in the network are very little used.

In order to adapt the bornes to the real needs of the users (evolution of the system of use, location, power, number, etc.), VNF has drawn up a questionnaire that you will find attached, allowing us to identify your wishes and your modes of use.

Please do not hesitate to send us any information that you consider useful for this work to be fruitful. It can only be carried out with your cooperation.

If possible, we would like to have a return by 10 August 2022 at the latest.

We thank you in advance for the time you will take to fill in this document and to return it to us and remain at your disposal if necessary.

Yours sincerely


Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)