Belgium and Red fuel - real facts.

[bendyone]

I was in Brugge last week on Kingfisher moored in the marina. We were sitting on the bank having a drink when along came a couple of Custom men. They looked at Kingfisher and then us so I thought I would ask about red or white fuel from the horses month.
They asked if we had been to Belgium before ( No ) and after a phone call they said would enter us on their system so in future it would be easy is we were stopped again.
They wanted to see, SSR, Insurance and VHF station licence. They asked a few details - make, age engine size and home port etc. All very friendly, about 20 minutes.
I asked about the fuel and they said that it was illegal for us to have red fuel and they could fine us and impound the boat until the tank and system had been cleaned. I decided not to argue the point with them. I invited them on board to inspect my fuel but they declined. ( I have only white on board )
Based on the above I would be very reluctant to go to Belgium if I had any red fuel on board.

 

[sailorman]

"Could" but they declined.A nod is as good as a wink to a blind man.

 

[jerrytug]

Well I was inspected by Belgian customs in Oostende and Zeebrugge,a couple of weeks ago. They just had a look at the usual certs etc,no mention of fuel. I was also visited by Zeebrugge police,who said my 1946 tidal stream atlas was out of date,and I could be fined for it ! Still no mention of fuel though,and if anybody reads this,just go,it is 99% scaremongering,cheers Jerry

 

[sailorman]

I had better get some noo charts then

 

[Marmalade]

Equally real facts

We have continued to visit Belgium without problem during the "scare". Latest was this year in May.

 

[PeterGibbs]

The pattern over the whole of the last season and this one to date is that Belgian officials assert their right to take action against UK vessels carrying red marked diesel in the main tank, but, in practice have been instructed not to harrass UK vessels otherwise compliant with registration documents etc.

Belgium is therefore open to UK cruisers on the same terms as Holland etc.

However, the matter is not settled because the EU Commission still holds the UK government to be non compliant on marked diesel for pleasure use. The matter could erupt once more at inter government level but is not likely to result again in unilateral action by individual countries. It is really a non-issue because there is no substantive loss or disruption to the financial arrangments of any EU country, but this being the EU it takes every opportunity to stick it to the recalcitrant Brits.
Do we want to tell Nigel......?

PWG

 

[sailorman]

The pattern over the whole of the last season and this one to date is that Belgian officials assert their right to take action against UK vessels carrying red marked diesel in the main tank, but, in practice have been instructed not to harrass UK vessels otherwise compliant with registration documents etc.

Belgium is therefore open to UK cruisers on the same terms as Holland etc.

However, the matter is not settled because the EU Commission still holds the UK government to be non compliant on marked diesel for pleasure use. The matter could erupt once more at inter government level but is not likely to result again in unilateral action by individual countries. It is really a non-issue because there is no substantive loss or disruption to the financial arrangments of any EU country, but this being the EU it takes every opportunity to stick it to the recalcitrant Brits.
Do we want to tell Nigel......?

PWG

A fair summery, the officials can only carry out orders

 

[thalassa]

Well, I posted this on Scuttlebutt ten days ago, but in the English version, which has now been taken down from the site:
http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/binnenland/1.1670339
It was even on national radio that morning. Last month, the harbourmasters from the coastal Yacht clubs had written an 'open letter' to the Federal Governement that due to the British yachties shunning the Belgian ports, the number of visitors had gone down 40%, hurting the local economy. One M.P. put up a question in Parlement about the affair. The Minister concerned declared he couldn't change the law, but he would ask Customs to go about it 'pragmatically'. Most Flemish newpapers wrote 'he would order Customs to leave British yachts alone'.
The text ends with the declaration from the Minister that 'he would request the British Governement to make white diesel available in the British ports'...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared