Red Diesel

[BartW]

I think it is marked, because tax-free fuel is strictly pumped from a certain pump.

About the UK case, I think after the Brexit, UK and Montenegro should normally be at the same bucket, “non-EU”. However the status of UK is much more complicated now and not possible to guess how much UK will be “non-EU”.

Normally what the EU customs may clarify is the tax-free fuel amount that you can bring into EU. Just like allowing X liters of liqeur, X boxes of cigarettes, etc. At the moment, it is stated as “tax-free fuel can be as much as the standard fuel tank of the boat”. But as far as I see, applications differ from country to country and this is a gray area. I wouldn't want to be in a position to dicsuss these issues with the customs officer of the country that I am visiting. But one day it can happen to me as I almost always use tax-free fuel.

Hi Eren, the tax free fuel from Montenegro is not marked, its white, the same collor like the taxed fuel, but it is indeed from separate pumps, I guess that has to do with logistics to keep administration of both fuels separate.

the "trick" they use in MNE, is sell you fuel in transit / customs clearance to another country, (like you buy taxfree in a airport) but afaik there is no real limitation on how much you can take onboard, as long its for usage of the boat you're bunkering..

I've never heard about controlls in EU on that. (once I was in Tivat next to a yacht bunkering 400.000l !!! before sailing to Italy ! )

the colored tax free fuel, for professional ships is blue,
fishing boats, toerist boats and professional yacht charter with correct papers can buy blue taxfree diesel in EU.

UK is the exception, they use red collored fuel, because part of the fuel onboard is used for heating.

each time this topic comes up, they mention about penalty's in Belgium for using red diesel, but afaik these penalty's have only been applied quite a few years ago, and atm afaik there are no controlls anymore,

but imo the solution is very simple, as soon as you come in territorial waters near Belgium, france or holland, go straight to a fuel station and buy some white eu taxed diesel, and keep the receipt with you, and I'm quite sure that any local official will give you a penalty for the red diesel that is mixed with the newly purchased white diesel, while continue your cruise in B or other EU coastal waters.
and FWIW, white taxed fuel in Belgium has nog huge price difference than UK 60/40 red diesel ! I'm not sure today, but in the past Belgium white was cheaper

 

[Eren]

Thanks for the info Bart. I am relieved with the info that EU customs officials are not after tax-free fuel.

 

[benjenbav]

Without wishing to give HMG any ideas, I would expect them just to apply the full tax to all fuel marked or unmarked and make commercial users prove an exemption based on their tax returns.

So, if you make your living from fishing you can still pay tax on your fuel and then reclaim. Easy for the tax man. Harsh on the fisherman.

 

[sailorman]

Without wishing to give HMG any ideas, I would expect them just to apply the full tax to all fuel marked or unmarked and make commercial users prove an exemption based on their tax returns.

So, if you make your living from fishing you can still pay tax on your fuel and then reclaim. Easy for the tax man. Harsh on the fisherman.

No more "harder" than any small business claiming VAT back & fuel used within that business. Then make it all white, job done

BIG MoBo`s still seem the thrive in The Netherlands,Belgium & France on white +Bio road fuels

 

[maby]

Thanks for the info Bart. I am relieved with the info that EU customs officials are not after tax-free fuel.

I'm sure they would start to be if it were coming in in any significant quantities. They are really not too worried about the small quantities that we burn in our boats - it's the prospect of marked fuel being easily available to go into other vehicles that worries them - hence the wish to enforce the rules on availability of marked fuel.