Red Diesel. HMG. Details.

rubberduck said:
So how do they do it ?
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I don’t know the detail of how every other EU country manages perfectly well to sell diesel to yachties - simply because it has never been an issue so never had to think about it.
Where there is a demand from boats to buy diesel there is an outlet established to meet the supply. Marinas have fuel docks, just like here, but don’t have the farcical charade of claiming 60/40 fuel split.
Some less tidal countries also have fuel stations which have pumps at both roadside and waterside, but that might not work so well in the Bristol Channel. However, Brittany manages perfectly well with yacht diesel supplies.

I don’t understand why we think the U.K. cannot manage to supply white diesel to yachts when everybody else can. I don’t like t9 think we are dumber and less capable than all these other countries.
 
dunedin said:
I don’t understand why we think the U.K. cannot manage to supply white diesel to yachts when everybody else can. I don’t like t9 think we are dumber and less capable than all these other countries.
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Dunedin, with respect I think you may have misunderstood the original question which is how do we continue to provide supplies of red diesel to commercial boats which are entitled to it, and also white diesel for recreational boats, when most fuel outlets only have one tank. Presumably in Europe all boats, commercial and recreational, burn white diesel, in which case does that mean everyone pays full duty? That is not what is going to happen here.
 
It will be a problem round here.
The vast majority of boats on the Medway are pleasure craft with very few commercial craft. ie small tugs and fishing boats.
Virtually all the ,marinas and boatyards cater for the leisure market.
Difficult to imagine that somebody is going to invest in the plant required to provide red for a very small market.
We also have a rare example of a large boatyard that welcomes livaboards, where will they get their Red for heating purposes. ?
As mentioned in a previous post the only supplier of Red round here ( fuel barge) to commercial users has just retired.
 
MartynG said:
That's a good question. Does anyone know the answer ?
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I have seen commercial vessels in France being filled by road tankers. Presumably fuel suppliers have separate tankers for red and white diesel because I usually fill my boat from a road tanker too but of course I can only buy white diesel. I have never seen a commercial vessel take on fuel at a waterside fuel station used by private leisure boats so I assume they are all filled by road tankers or, if they have no alternative but to buy white diesel, they can get a rebate

Marine fuel suppliers in the UK are obviously going to have to make a decision, stick with selling red diesel only to the commercial trade or install a separate tank and filler for white diesel to sell to the leisure trade as well. I suspect many will do the latter; maybe I'm wrong but it doesnt seem like a huge capital outlay to do that and in any case for sure they'll load the cost on to their white diesel fuel price

It is indeed deeply ironic that the UK govt having resisted EU edicts on red diesel for propulsion for years has now appeared to have caved in only weeks after we have left the EU. Of course this is just a cover. The UK govt needs every penny it can get in the next few years and getting rid of red diesel for leisure boating is a case of every little helps. One thing is for sure. You can bet your house that the UK govt will not row back on this decision when the transition period comes to an end
 
As I use less than 60 litres in a good year, I'm unconcerned about the tax paid. I am, however VERY concerned about the addition of ethanol to "white diesel" in Road fuel. Ethanol is hydroscopic and as we all know "THE BUG" lives in the margins between water and diesel. Aaaaaaaargh!
 
Topcat47 said:
As I use less than 60 litres in a good year, I'm unconcerned about the tax paid. I am, however VERY concerned about the addition of ethanol to "white diesel" in Road fuel. Ethanol is hydroscopic and as we all know "THE BUG" lives in the margins between water and diesel. Aaaaaaaargh!
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Do people in the rest of the EU who have had to use white diesel in their boats for years have regular fuel issues ?
 
jordanbasset said:
Certainly in the 8 years I have had a boat in other European countries I have never had a problem
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Do you know of anyone who has had a fuel problem when using white diesel ? I certainly do, including the boat that moors next to me, but that's with red fuel.
 
MartynG said:
Do you know of anyone who has had a fuel problem when using white diesel ? I certainly do, including the boat that moors next to me, but that's with red fuel.
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Could have but have not heard personally. I regularly check my fuel filter and in addition change my fine filter once a year. Preventative action/sensible maintenance seems to have kept me safe
Not saying it doesn't happen but perhaps it is a little over stated and as you point out it can happen with red diesel.
If people are worried I understand there is a fairly cheap additive that can be purchased which would help
 
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