sailorman
Well-Known Member
It used to be our lot pinching our booze a few yrs ago
Last edited:
Ostende and red diesel - BEWARE
- Thread starter phatcat1
- Start date
It used to be our lot pinching our booze a few yrs ago
jimi
Well-Known Member
Wonder if someone in the foreign office has p!ssed off the Belgians. Wouldn't be the first time the sainted Boris has achieved that.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Well if he hasn't then he wants to get over there & do it big time ASAP
Bru
Well-Known Member
I suspect approximately 52% of the voting population might just have p!ssed off the Belgians. Although I wouldn't put anything past Boris
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Or rather, the 0.0001% of the Belgian population who work in their Douanes have pissed off 100% of those Belgians who run the harbours and surrounding tourist trades.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
The EAORA fleet of many years standing were surely the "guests" of the RNSYC & as such the Commodore the RNSYC should send a strongly worded letter to his government for the robbing of his guests
Boz
Well-Known Member
Shotley point have circulated an email warning of a 500 Euro fine for red diesel.... of course it might have been one of the EAORA racing fleet. It would be really good if someone came on here and said "I've been fined" and explain the exact circumstances. All reports seem to be second hand......
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Re the alternative stopover Cadzand which was mentioned earlier........talking to Dutch couple next door to us last night, they have been there. Said it's OK as convenient stop, although little there, one nice restaurant and a small supermarket. They said many of the berths seem to be intended for very large mobos. Shelter poor in N through NW winds, they said. Ironically in the circumstances, they said it has been developed by a Belgiam company.....
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Cadzand is not a recognised port of entry for sheningan so one could fall foul of immigration on that account
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Ok,, although nobody has ever shown any interest whatsoever in my Schengen forms in Holland.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Fair comment, I forgot that new harbour was on the Dutch side of the border.
phatcat1
Well-Known Member
We were planning on going to Oostende in August but now doubting if we should go. Latest RYA news posted below indicating 6 boats have been fined in less than a month. Can anyone give me good news or should we avoid?
News item below
UK boater fined for red diesel in Belgium
June 28, 2017
Risk remains of heavy fines from Belgian authorities if found with red diesel in your fuel tanks
We have received a report from a boater who has been fined €500 for having traces of red diesel in his yacht’s fuel tank following an inspection by Belgian Customs in Nieuwpoort.
Belgian Customs boarded the UK flagged boat at the KYCN Marina and in addition to checking paperwork examined a sample of fuel, which was found to contain traces of red diesel.
Although it is still legal to purchase red diesel for use in pleasure craft in the UK, it is unlawful in Belgium to use red diesel for propelling a private pleasure craft.
Boating in Belgian waters with marked 'red' diesel in your fuel tanks in 2010 and 2011 put you at risk of receiving a significant fine. The Belgian Authorities then appeared to have become more tolerant of UK boaters using red diesel and the risk of being fined seemed to have reduced. We received a report in May 2016 which suggested that the Belgian Authorities were hardening, however no reports of fines were received until now.
At present we do not know whether this fine was an isolated incident or if it is a signal that the Belgian authorities are taking a tougher approach towards UK flagged boats. In order to establish a fuller picture of the situation, we would urge anyone who is fined in Belgium for having red diesel in their tanks to email boating.abroad@rya.org.uk giving as much detail as possible.
Update:
Following on from this request we have been notified that a group of three boats were each fined €500 in July 2017 in Nieuwpoort and two yachts were each fined €750 in July 2017 in Oostende.
News item below
UK boater fined for red diesel in Belgium
June 28, 2017
Risk remains of heavy fines from Belgian authorities if found with red diesel in your fuel tanks
We have received a report from a boater who has been fined €500 for having traces of red diesel in his yacht’s fuel tank following an inspection by Belgian Customs in Nieuwpoort.
Belgian Customs boarded the UK flagged boat at the KYCN Marina and in addition to checking paperwork examined a sample of fuel, which was found to contain traces of red diesel.
Although it is still legal to purchase red diesel for use in pleasure craft in the UK, it is unlawful in Belgium to use red diesel for propelling a private pleasure craft.
Boating in Belgian waters with marked 'red' diesel in your fuel tanks in 2010 and 2011 put you at risk of receiving a significant fine. The Belgian Authorities then appeared to have become more tolerant of UK boaters using red diesel and the risk of being fined seemed to have reduced. We received a report in May 2016 which suggested that the Belgian Authorities were hardening, however no reports of fines were received until now.
At present we do not know whether this fine was an isolated incident or if it is a signal that the Belgian authorities are taking a tougher approach towards UK flagged boats. In order to establish a fuller picture of the situation, we would urge anyone who is fined in Belgium for having red diesel in their tanks to email boating.abroad@rya.org.uk giving as much detail as possible.
Update:
Following on from this request we have been notified that a group of three boats were each fined €500 in July 2017 in Nieuwpoort and two yachts were each fined €750 in July 2017 in Oostende.
Cantata
Well-Known Member
Have you read the thread on Scuttlebutt?
And this? http://www.theca.org.uk/rats/red_diesel_use_in_belgium
Personally I wouldn't go near the place.
And this? http://www.theca.org.uk/rats/red_diesel_use_in_belgium
Personally I wouldn't go near the place.
phatcat1
Well-Known Member
Thanks Cantata, no I hadn't. Not often on the forum now.
That answers my question!
That answers my question!
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
I have spread the word via the cruisers forum. Although mostly US based it still has a number of UK readers.
Elemental
Well-Known Member
As I've been considering a trip to Ostende, wrote an email to RNSYC in Ostende asking for clarification.
Simon confirmed that customs are checking boats for red diesel and that they are "trying to talk with the government to find a solution".
For now, even with the recommended paperwork and documents, I think it's foolhardy to visit.
I regret that the RYA lobbied for the continued use of Red by leisure boaters and the clearly tax dodging 60/40 split rather than refusing permission for red and forcing white to be deployed shoreside.
Simon confirmed that customs are checking boats for red diesel and that they are "trying to talk with the government to find a solution".
For now, even with the recommended paperwork and documents, I think it's foolhardy to visit.
I regret that the RYA lobbied for the continued use of Red by leisure boaters and the clearly tax dodging 60/40 split rather than refusing permission for red and forcing white to be deployed shoreside.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Nothing to do with "tax dodging" Its MARKED ( dyed ) fuel that is the only issue
Elemental
Well-Known Member
I know that - hence I identified the split as a separate issue in my post. But the loss of the 60/40 split is one objection raised whenever I discuss the issue of prohibiting leisure red with other users (especially motor-boaters)..
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
May I ask.
Other than the red diesel issue, did Simon say whether there were any other problems we should be aware of? I am going to Ostend about the 8 August for 12 days.