Belgian customs

[neale]

The Duane who checked us stated both the Belgians & Dutch Authorities were well aware of the 60-40 split & it wasnt an issue for UK Reg boats.
a different matter if a Shengen Dweller returned with red- a big fine ranging €700 > 1200

May I ask which port you were checked in?

 

[Cantata]

I was in Boulogne two nights at the weekend, never saw Les Douanes or the police. Just as well because I....oh, well, never mind anyway.

 

[Pye_End]

I was in Boulogne two nights at the weekend, never saw Les Douanes or the police. Just as well because I....oh, well, never mind anyway.

Go on Dick, tell us the story - you know you want to really.

 

[sailorman]

May I ask which port you were checked in?

We al went to Oostende

 

[GlennG]

They were waiting on the keyside and met us as we arrived. They were really polite and nice as they went through the list of paperwork to fill in their four page form. One of them was dressed in very colourful motorcycle leathers; strangely out of place on a marina pontoon!

They were very much interested in the paperwork and not at all interested in coming on the boat.

Things they wanted:
- Passports of all crew
- Part one registration document. I pointed out the build date (1978) which means no VAT grief.
- Insurance
- Radio licence - had a photo and looks official

We then had a chat about beer and he recommended Rodenbach - an excellent brew

 

[Saguday]

Why are you still required to show passports when on a boat when Europe supposedly has open borders?

 

[Wunja]

Why are you still required to show passports when on a boat when Europe supposedly has open borders?

Theoretically, as a citizen of a non-Schengen country - yes, but you would need to find a border control that was manned. Airports you would, whereas a Schengen citizen could pass through with a driving licence or other official photo ID.

I'm resident in NL, and when I was waiting for a new passport to come back from the embassy, my office were desperate for me to travel to Sweden. Because of this I needed to find out the rules and the official word was I couldn't travel.

 

[idpnd]

I overheard Roger's conversation with the Duane and he said that would not be acceptable. White only in Belgian and Dutch registered boats.

Apparently you're fine (for local boats) if you can show a UK receipt to prove its from there..

 

[Wunja]

Apparently you're fine (for local boats) if you can show a UK receipt to prove its from there..

Sorry, you are not correct. The customs officer was quite clear, Belgian and Dutch boats are not allowed red, regardless of receipts.

 

[wingdiver]

That pretty much sums up the stupidity of EU customs then.
If you 've bought something in another EU country and paid full duty there, then it's supposed to be OK.
If I buy a bottle of wine from France for £2.50 including duty of £0.50, the UK customs don't then charge me the other £3.50 of duty I might have paid if I bought it in the UK when I bring it back in.
If anyone buys diesel with the correct duty paid in an EU country, then that should be sufficient for the local customs when they arrive at another EU country.
Seems to me that the Belgian/Dutch customs are actually flouting EU law.
No point in risking fines, boat impounded etc so we will be steering well clear until they sort themselves out.

 

[sailorman]

Sorry, you are not correct. The customs officer was quite clear, Belgian and Dutch boats are not allowed red, regardless of receipts.

Thats wot the Duane Man told me

 

[GlennG]

Sorry, you are not correct. The customs officer was quite clear, Belgian and Dutch boats are not allowed red, regardless of receipts.

Must present one hell of a problem for Dutch & Belgian boats that sail into UK waters. Or, more likely, one hell of a problem for the customs officials when they realise they've a rather weak argument in their assertion that NL/BE law is applicable to the UK.

I suppose the customs officers think it's perfectly OK to ask NL/BE boat owners to buy a few cans and make a few trips to the local garage just to make customs law work.

Maybe the customs officer was saying that NL/BE boats can never use red diesel sourced in NL/BE and omitted to continue with the caveat that when they're travelling in the UK/elsewhere, then local laws apply.