Ostende and red diesel - BEWARE
- Thread starter phatcat1
- Start date
wingdiver
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
When all marinas/harbours have red diesel tanks and yachts and mobos have been carrying red legally, how would the UK be able to remove traces of red. It would come from shoreside tanks and onboard. They would all need to be replaced or cleaned to remove traces of dye.
The only solution is for the use of red by UK vessels to be approved as there is no real alternative.
And before people start saying, bring it in cans... try doing that when your motorsailer carries 1600 litres of fuel and a top up is usually around 600 litres...!!
We are also liveaboards so genuinely use diesel for heating and cooking (generator as no gas). If we go nowhere between fills, 60/40 isn't correct as it would be 100% domestic.
Why they can't just accept it whatever the colour - as long as it;s in your tanks and you've paid the duty on it that was correct in the country of purchase.
The next thing will be Belgian customs asking for a few extra Euros a bottle on wine you bought cheaply in France!!!
It's all a complete mess caused by bonkers bureaucrats.
When all marinas/harbours have red diesel tanks and yachts and mobos have been carrying red legally, how would the UK be able to remove traces of red. It would come from shoreside tanks and onboard. They would all need to be replaced or cleaned to remove traces of dye.
The only solution is for the use of red by UK vessels to be approved as there is no real alternative.
And before people start saying, bring it in cans... try doing that when your motorsailer carries 1600 litres of fuel and a top up is usually around 600 litres...!!
We are also liveaboards so genuinely use diesel for heating and cooking (generator as no gas). If we go nowhere between fills, 60/40 isn't correct as it would be 100% domestic.
Why they can't just accept it whatever the colour - as long as it;s in your tanks and you've paid the duty on it that was correct in the country of purchase.
The next thing will be Belgian customs asking for a few extra Euros a bottle on wine you bought cheaply in France!!!
It's all a complete mess caused by bonkers bureaucrats.
Eurybia
Member
Newbroom
Active member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
A further Facebook Posting from my friend in Belgium
Copy of my email to the RYA this morning re Red Fuel in Belgium.
Well done everyone who perfumed this issues.
Dear Carol
I have a further update for you and hopefully our RYA members.
The Belgium TV news today confirmed that the Belgium Customs have announced yesterday that as a result of pressure from British boaters, Belgium marina companies and Harbour masters, that they will no longer fine British boaters for having traces of red fuel in their boat fuel tanks. This is of corse based on the proper documentation and fuel receipts being available for their inspection if requested.
This state will remain in place until further notice.
I guess this will be when the EU Parliament finally rule on the issue.
That could well take some time.
One up to the masses.
Regards
I hope he dosn't get accused of not being truthful this time Lol
A further Facebook Posting from my friend in Belgium
Copy of my email to the RYA this morning re Red Fuel in Belgium.
Well done everyone who perfumed this issues.
Dear Carol
I have a further update for you and hopefully our RYA members.
The Belgium TV news today confirmed that the Belgium Customs have announced yesterday that as a result of pressure from British boaters, Belgium marina companies and Harbour masters, that they will no longer fine British boaters for having traces of red fuel in their boat fuel tanks. This is of corse based on the proper documentation and fuel receipts being available for their inspection if requested.
This state will remain in place until further notice.
I guess this will be when the EU Parliament finally rule on the issue.
That could well take some time.
One up to the masses.
Regards
I hope he dosn't get accused of not being truthful this time Lol
Boz
Member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
Not sure that it is a parliamentary issue - it is the EU Committee on Excise Duty that will make the ruling and the meeting is, I believe, on the 18th September ......
Not sure that it is a parliamentary issue - it is the EU Committee on Excise Duty that will make the ruling and the meeting is, I believe, on the 18th September ......
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
Presumably minutes will be written circulated & agreed . The info will then be circulated to relevant governments for ratification etc. That , one would imagine, will take a few weeks. Hopefully that will see this season out at least
Presumably minutes will be written circulated & agreed . The info will then be circulated to relevant governments for ratification etc. That , one would imagine, will take a few weeks. Hopefully that will see this season out at least
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
No disrespect intended but Personally i would like to see the actual translation of the programme rather than a third hand facebook type note. Things do get distorted & things do get added/removed as they are passed down the chain.
I would further suggest that "further notice" will be the published result of the EU commission meeting-- it depends how long that takes to filter down. Presumably the wheels of committee will run quite slowly.
No disrespect intended but Personally i would like to see the actual translation of the programme rather than a third hand facebook type note. Things do get distorted & things do get added/removed as they are passed down the chain.
I would further suggest that "further notice" will be the published result of the EU commission meeting-- it depends how long that takes to filter down. Presumably the wheels of committee will run quite slowly.
Newbroom
Active member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
Yes quite true and I understand your hesitance lets hope that it is accurate. But knowing my friend for his persistence and doggedness in this matter and I would'nt want to bet on it being inaccurate. The Facebook note was him just filling me in on his latest notes to the RYA re his lobbying in Belgium
Dave
Yes quite true and I understand your hesitance lets hope that it is accurate. But knowing my friend for his persistence and doggedness in this matter and I would'nt want to bet on it being inaccurate. The Facebook note was him just filling me in on his latest notes to the RYA re his lobbying in Belgium
Dave
ex-Gladys
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
There was a Centaur from the Medway alongside us in Woodbridge, and they got done in Nieuwport. I felt really sorry for them, because they'd been using only white diesel for two years, and it still hadn't washed out the red. €500 fine. The guy wanted to "have is day in court" but was told they would impound passports and boat unless he paid up...
There was a Centaur from the Medway alongside us in Woodbridge, and they got done in Nieuwport. I felt really sorry for them, because they'd been using only white diesel for two years, and it still hadn't washed out the red. €500 fine. The guy wanted to "have is day in court" but was told they would impound passports and boat unless he paid up...
Newbroom
Active member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
And that is the problem bully boy tactics like that leave you with no choice but to pay up regardless of the law
And that is the problem bully boy tactics like that leave you with no choice but to pay up regardless of the law
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
Today i received this reply having emailled 9 mep's some time ago
Dear Mr Longley
Thank you for your email addressed to Stuart Agnew MEP. He has asked me to reply to you on his behalf.
We have been looking into this matter but are hampered by the fact that your email arrived while the European Parliament is in summer recess. This limits our resources as many staff are on holiday. Nevertheless, our researcher did email the Belgian Yachting Association and elicited the following, not very helpful reply:
Dear Sir,
We can only regret the approach of Belgian authorities regarding British yachtsmen and red fuel in particular.
We have tried to convince Belgian responsible authorities to change their attitude so far without success.
Yours Sincerely,
Met vriendelijke groeten,
Gerda
We are now considering putting down a written question to the European Commission about this issue, on your behalf but again, we cannot do this until the Parliament is back in September.
With your permission, I would like to come back to you on this next month.
Sincerely
Stuart Gulleford
Political Advisor to Stuart Agnew MEP
So long as you accept no disrespect intended
Today i received this reply having emailled 9 mep's some time ago
Dear Mr Longley
Thank you for your email addressed to Stuart Agnew MEP. He has asked me to reply to you on his behalf.
We have been looking into this matter but are hampered by the fact that your email arrived while the European Parliament is in summer recess. This limits our resources as many staff are on holiday. Nevertheless, our researcher did email the Belgian Yachting Association and elicited the following, not very helpful reply:
Dear Sir,
We can only regret the approach of Belgian authorities regarding British yachtsmen and red fuel in particular.
We have tried to convince Belgian responsible authorities to change their attitude so far without success.
Yours Sincerely,
Met vriendelijke groeten,
Gerda
We are now considering putting down a written question to the European Commission about this issue, on your behalf but again, we cannot do this until the Parliament is back in September.
With your permission, I would like to come back to you on this next month.
Sincerely
Stuart Gulleford
Political Advisor to Stuart Agnew MEP
Boz
Member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
Do we know if this was before or after the Ambassador's response or the CA's statement and now the RYA (latest News letter)?
Do we know if this was before or after the Ambassador's response or the CA's statement and now the RYA (latest News letter)?
Biggles Wader
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
I wonder if any of the people who have been fined are trying to get their money back,or if the RYA are assisting anyone affected to do so.We are all vulnerable to arbitrary policy changes such as happened this summer unless there is some recourse available to those who get unlucky.I wont be visiting until the Belgians officially publish a policy, enforceable under the rule of law, which includes a concentration level above which fuel is illegal.That way they would have to prove an offense before blithely relieving us of £500 under threat of detention.
I wonder if any of the people who have been fined are trying to get their money back,or if the RYA are assisting anyone affected to do so.We are all vulnerable to arbitrary policy changes such as happened this summer unless there is some recourse available to those who get unlucky.I wont be visiting until the Belgians officially publish a policy, enforceable under the rule of law, which includes a concentration level above which fuel is illegal.That way they would have to prove an offense before blithely relieving us of £500 under threat of detention.
CCJ
Member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
The RYA will not assist reclaiming fines as according to the advise we have been told not to go to Belgium with any marked fuel. They are as good as a chocolate teapot
The RYA will not assist reclaiming fines as according to the advise we have been told not to go to Belgium with any marked fuel. They are as good as a chocolate teapot
apollo
...
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
RYA has not come out of this well, thinking of switching to Cruising Assoc..
RYA has not come out of this well, thinking of switching to Cruising Assoc..
Talulah
Well-known member
CCJ
Member
Elemental
Well-known member
Bru
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
I'm curious about what it is that people think the CA has done that the RYA has not?
Both organisations have been very actively fighting the corner of UK boaters over this issue for more than a decade
I'm curious about what it is that people think the CA has done that the RYA has not?
Both organisations have been very actively fighting the corner of UK boaters over this issue for more than a decade
maby
Well-known member
Re: Ambassador's reponse to CA
I'm not clear about the CA's position on this, but I would say that the RYA's pressure to retain red diesel coupled with the 60/40 split has resulted in us wasting the opportunities to address the issues and seems likely to result in us effectively being banned from the whole of mainland Europe soon.
I'm not clear about the CA's position on this, but I would say that the RYA's pressure to retain red diesel coupled with the 60/40 split has resulted in us wasting the opportunities to address the issues and seems likely to result in us effectively being banned from the whole of mainland Europe soon.