We may go back to Belgium this year!

CliveG

CliveG

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The Royal Belgium Sailing Club claim that stained diesel is, by decision of the Ministry of Finance, no longer an issue for British yachtsmen. And should you have a random customs visit, which is rare, then a simple recent receipt (max. one year old) from a UK fuel station, proving that VAT/Excise was paid in the UK, will be sufficient.

http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/536089/busting-the-red-diesel-myth-in-belgium
 
CliveG said:
The Royal Belgium Sailing Club claim that stained diesel is, by decision of the Ministry of Finance, no longer an issue for British yachtsmen.
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Hmm
I think I'll wait until I see an official announcement from the Belgium government.
After all, would you put your faith in a memo from your local sailing club regarding which UK laws to ignore ?

I've managed quite well without visiting Belgium recently
The Dutch have been very friendly and this year we'll try France
 
I remain unpurturbed by all of this. Whilst they made a lot of noise, I've seen no evidence of the authorities actually penalising tourists sailing over to Belgium spending their hard-earned. Where are these fined sailors? All these overtures are really being aimed at the government, I am sure.

I got boarded by police in Montgomery Dock in 2012. They had a long checklist about everything on the boat and wanted details. Amongst all the questions on safety gear, charts, boat dimensions, and insurance, they asked what the engine was, how powerful it was (hear those mighty 10HPs purr) and what fuel the engine ran on. They completely avoided the question of what colour said fuel was, and even whether tax had been paid on it.

I would be amazed if any individual was fined for red diesel without them also having the book chucked at them without lots of other, more serious, offences into the bargain.
 
Supine Being said:
I remain unpurturbed by all of this. Whilst they made a lot of noise, I've seen no evidence of the authorities actually penalising tourists sailing over to Belgium spending their hard-earned. Where are these fined sailors? All these overtures are really being aimed at the government, I am sure.

I got boarded by police in Montgomery Dock in 2012. They had a long checklist about everything on the boat and wanted details. Amongst all the questions on safety gear, charts, boat dimensions, and insurance, they asked what the engine was, how powerful it was (hear those mighty 10HPs purr) and what fuel the engine ran on. They completely avoided the question of what colour said fuel was, and even whether tax had been paid on it.

I would be amazed if any individual was fined for red diesel without them also having the book chucked at them without lots of other, more serious, offences into the bargain.
Click to expand...
Quite so
 
A proudly red stained Full Circle will be on cruising duty off the ports of Nieupoort, Oostende and Blankenberge during the 2014 Gunboat Diplomacy course being run by Shell UK, in the last 2 weeks of August and the 1st week of September.

I intend to drink Leffe Ruby as a nose thumbing exercise to the Revenuers.
 
One child per can, that's the going rate. Half a can and they'll just take the dog, provided it's white; no red setters for our Belgies.
 
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