For those contemplating doing Holland this year.

Guapa said:
Been reading this month's copy of Zeilen Magazine - the Dutch YM counterpart (only much better).

Red diesel.

A no-no.
Customs (Douane) will patrol vigorously.
You will be OK if:
- you have your UK receipts and a detailed engine logbook (hours run, etc...).
You will be not so OK if:
- you only have receipts but no detailed engine logbook but Douane accepts that you acted in good faith. In that case there's a one-off fine of €226.
You're ****ed if:
- you have neither. Douane will consider you did not act in good faith and you will be fined €4.53 per litre of red diesel found on board.


You've been warned ;)
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Correction - you will be fined based on the capacity of your tanks! Not the amount of diesel on board. Also the boat will be impounded until you pay the fine in full.

Ask me how I know this!
 
Oops, then there is the 'black water' 'grey water' issues. Make sure the sea cocks on the heads are shut if you are boarded and even if you have a black water tank installed and operational.

Still a great place to sail, like the Bristol Channel will be when they build the barrage.
 
So i get a €1000 fine for having some legally purchased fuel in my tank, but no paperwork. Or i can "get away" with €226 because i do have my receipt but no engine log. Typically, i won't have a receipt as i get billed monthly for fuel and I don't keep an engine log.

We do have a black water tank though and outgoing seacocks are always shut off when inland, to save any mistakes.

Or i can stay out of Dutch waters.
 
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PaulGooch said:
So i get a €1000 fine for having some legally purchased fuel in my tank, but no paperwork. Or i can "get away" with €226 because i do have my receipt but no engine log. Typically, i won't have a receipt as i get billed monthly for fuel and I don't keep an engine log.

We do have a black water tank though and outgoing seacocks are always shut off when inland, to save any mistakes.

Or i can stay out of Dutch waters.
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fill up before you leave UK keep receipt + Log from that time so the clock re-sets so to speak
 
sailorman said:
fill up before you leave UK keep receipt + Log from that time so the clock re-sets so to speak
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What happens if you 'only' manage to squeeze 5 litres into your 200 litre tank?
You will be carrying a reciept for 5 litres.
I think they may well question the provenance of the other 195 litres.
Or worse, you use 25 litres getting over there.... well, you can see where that goes.

It is illegal (IMHO) as has been said before.
If they wish to play ducks and drakes in this manner, then I am afraid I can do without them.
 
FullCircle said:
If they wish to play ducks and drakes in this manner, then I am afraid I can do without them.
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Forgetting the fact we all belong to the EU, my take is that this is supposedly a great cruising ground that I want to visit. If I want to go the States I get an ESTA form, If South Africa then I have to have an international driving licence, if India a visa, if Abu Dabhi then remember not to kiss in public etc etc. Choose your destination, fulfil the criteria, go and enjoy.

I think that it is totally pathetic of the Dutch authorities to take this position over re diesel when they know that's all we can get in marinas. There seem to be plenty of pathetic people around unfortunately.

End of rant (feel better now:) - been that kind of morning)
 
FullCircle said:
What happens if you 'only' manage to squeeze 5 litres into your 200 litre tank?
You will be carrying a reciept for 5 litres.
I think they may well question the provenance of the other 195 litres.
Or worse, you use 25 litres getting over there.... well, you can see where that goes.

It is illegal (IMHO) as has been said before.
If they wish to play ducks and drakes in this manner, then I am afraid I can do without them.
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Yep can get quite silly i agree.
Now if one ran only on white DERV how does that figure
 
MoodySabre said:
Forgetting the fact we all belong to the EU, my take is that this is supposedly a great cruising ground that I want to visit. If I want to go the States I get an ESTA form, If South Africa then I have to have an international driving licence, if India a visa, if Abu Dabhi then remember not to kiss in public etc etc. Choose your destination, fulfil the criteria, go and enjoy.

I think that it is totally pathetic of the Dutch authorities to take this position over re diesel when they know that's all we can get in marinas. There seem to be plenty of pathetic people around unfortunately.

End of rant (feel better now:) - been that kind of morning)
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I wholly agree Roger.
Remember also that we are paying £6 Billion quid per annum to be in Europe, so I get particularly aggrieved, when the normally laid back Henk van den Pissup hinders normally or low impact law abiding activities.
I expect it with USA, SA, Australia et al - we do not have an agreement with them, and we know the score enough to choose not to if we don't like it.

Maybe April 1st comes a week or two late in Nederland?
 
sailorman said:
Yep can get quite silly i agree.
Now if one ran only on white DERV how does that figure
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Well I am completely confused.

I have a tank full of red diesel. But now I am in Bridgemarsh with no fuel pontoon, I will be refilling by jerry can. Probably bought from petrol station. So my fuel will be pinkish.

1. Is it ok to MIX diesels??
2. If one only has normal white diesel from the petrol station in the tank - is that OK?
3. What happens if it is mixed and pink?

I no nuffink.
 
ChattingLil said:
Well I am completely confused.

I have a tank full of red diesel. But now I am in Bridgemarsh with no fuel pontoon, I will be refilling by jerry can. Probably bought from petrol station. So my fuel will be pinkish.

1. Is it ok to MIX diesels??
2. If one only has normal white diesel from the petrol station in the tank - is that OK?
3. What happens if it is mixed and pink?

I no nuffink.
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mixing is ok
keep the receipts. in Cherbourg the diesel is from a road self service stn with a long hose dropped over the dock
 
ChattingLil said:
So my fuel will be pinkish.

1. Is it ok to MIX diesels??
2. If one only has normal white diesel from the petrol station in the tank - is that OK?
3. What happens if it is mixed and pink?
Click to expand...

How long would it take for a tank that has in the past been used for red but was now used for 'white' to lose it's red tinge? Surely it could be argued that a tank of pink fuel is down to the tank and is actually 'white' in a red stained tank. So if you keep some receipts from filling up the car would this do for the Dutch authorities if accompanied with a log of hours?

I don't know why I am asking really as I am not planning to go to Holland as I don't fancy the box berthing singlehanded - hat off to Vince doing it singlehanded!
 
Karouise said:
How long would it take for a tank that has in the past been used for red but was now used for 'white' to lose it's red tinge? Surely it could be argued that a tank of pink fuel is down to the tank and is actually 'white' in a red stained tank. So if you keep some receipts from filling up the car would this do for the Dutch authorities if accompanied with a log of hours?

I don't know why I am asking really as I am not planning to go to Holland as I don't fancy the box berthing singlehanded - hat off to Vince doing it singlehanded!
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Here's the crux of the problem, as i see it. It's up to Dutch C&E to decide if they accept your paperwork and stories. Don't fancy turning up in Holland with the remnants of a tank of white, that i put in before leaving (having previously used red of course) to have some Dutch C&E bloke fine me a grand because he doesn't accept that's what i've done.

We weren't planning a trip to Holland this year, but had considered it for next. France, here we come :)
 
Red diesel can be detected in the fuel system for the LIFE of the fuel system and engine, if you look hard enough.

If the Douanebeambte are using a dip check, probably about 2 years after you stop using it. If they are using the detection light, quite a lot longer....
 
FullCircle said:
Red diesel can be detected in the fuel system for the LIFE of the fuel system and engine, if you look hard enough.

If the Douanebeambte are using a dip check, probably about 2 years after you stop using it. If they are using the detection light, quite a lot longer....
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The Cloggies cruising UK will have the same problem ( if the fill here ) as us.
this may well be the same hype as we had 2 yrs ago.
The DD might be more of a prop. The morning after the night before :eek:
 
wingdiver said:
To use alcohol as an analogy, if we buy a litre of spirits in France or Holland and pay duty in that country we are perfectly entitled to bring it back into the UK without paying any further duty even if the UK duty levied on goods would be higher. Why are the Dutch able to instruct their Customs officers to penalise UK boaters in such a way?
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Alcohol is not a good analogy. It is not possible to buy alcohol that has not been deemed duty paid in Europe, so it is therefore assumed that duty has been paid. This is the same as the assumption that duty has been paid on white diesel.
Red Diesel is assumed to have had no duty paid on it and that is why the onus is on the user to prove that duty has been paid.
The problem is the UK government coming up with a stupid scheme where duty can be paid on red diesel, making it legal to use (in the UK). I'm sure the Dutch (and French and Belgian?) customs officers would much rather just check that white diesel is being used, rather than the confusion of receipts and logs that now has to be put in place.
Additionally, the forecourt price of white diesel over here is about 1.15 Euros, or about the same as the concessionary price on Red or if the concessionary price you are getting is less, then enjoy your subsidised boating and quit whinging.
 
I only wish they could get the priorities right.

I have openly seen boat owners eating the wrong size cheese's in cockpits.

When is this going to be investigated properly ? and when will these louts feel the weight of a damn good thrashing ?
 
Now here are a few things that should be banned :-


1. A nose ring and bifocals

2. Spiked hair and bald spots

3. A pierced tongue and dentures

4. Miniskirts and support hose

5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads

6. Speedo's and cellulite

7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar

8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor

9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge

10. Bikinis and liver spots

11. Mini skirts and varicose veins
 
LONG_KEELER said:
I only wish they could get the priorities right.

I have openly seen boat owners eating the wrong size cheese's in cockpits.

When is this going to be investigated properly ? and when will these louts feel the weight of a damn good thrashing ?
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thats perfectly ok as the Dutch havnt yet mastered the Art of Good Cheese Making have they.:D
 
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