A Falmouth fuel barge has confirmed this week that it will no longer supply diesel fuel to leisure craft.
FOS Terminal manager Paul Denmead told the Falmouth Packet: “The decision to cease supplying diesel to leisure craft comes into force this week. After HM Revenue and Customs introduced the new legislation it really is not worth our while supplying leisure users - it is just too much hassle for us.”

It is recognised that there is the potential for pollution incidents when boats are refuelled at fuel pontoons. One litre of spilt fuel can contaminate one million litres of water, with potentially serious consequences to marine flora and fauna. Oil and fuels are the most frequently reported pollutant of inland waters in England and Wales. The majority comes from everyday sources like refuelling, engine emissions and oil leaks.

General Precautions

• When fuelling, avoid topping off or overfilling to reduce the risk of fuel overflowing from vents. Allow room for expansion in the tank.
• Use a funnel when pouring fuel or oil.
• Avoid using oil and fuel on the pontoons, other than on those dedicated to refuelling. Off the boat, the Government recommends a distance of at least 10m from the water.
• Good maintenance of fuel lines, connections and seals helps avoid leaks.
• The most effective way to clean oily bilge water is to use an oil absorbent sock.
• Check bilge water for contaminants before routine pumping.
• Dispose of all oily or fuel-soaked materials in the hazardous waste containers.
• A drip tray under the engine is a requirement on many waterways. If it starts getting oily, find and mend the leak!

Further precautions when fuel supplied by road tanker

• Mooring lines should be tight and checked regularly throughout supply.
• There should be adequate length of transfer hose to avoid undue strain on the fuel connection.
• The hose should be in good condition, with no visible sign of damage.
  (Bulges, gouges, damage to the hose reinforcement).
• The connection at the vessel manifold must be sufficiently tightened and sealed.
• Vessel scuppers should be plugged and appropriate spill protection equipment readily available.
• The emergency shutdown procedure should be established with both crew and supplier before delivery takes place.
• There should be a no smoking ban with clear signs in place throughout fuelling and fire fighting equipment must be at the ready.
• Quantity and pumping rate should be agreed with the vessel and supplier before delivery.
• A vessel representative should inspect the trucks and agree the quantity before delivery.
• A vessel representative should witness the sampling of the product during delivery.
• Official sealed and documented samples should be retained by both vessel and supplier.
• Final quantity received on board should be agreed and signed for on the delivery note at completion of loading.

In the event of a spillage

To reduce the risk of serious pollution incidents, an emergency fuel spill kit box is kept in some marinas or the vessel itself carries it’s Emergency Spill products. This normally consists of oil/fuel absorbent pads and a containment boom. These absorbent materials pick up and contain hydrocarbons without water logging or sinking. Spills can therefore be effectively and efficiently dealt with,

Preventing serious pollution incidents from occurring.

For further information on the oil/fuel spill kits that are available, visit the Green Directory:http://thegreenblue.org.uk/greendirectory/index.asp. There are also spill kit products for the individual boat owner; these include fuel collars to catch any drips when refuelling, bilge socks and pads to deal with accidental spills and in line filters for bilge pumps.

www.marinefuelpoint.com

With volatile marine fuel prices, changes in marine fuel legislation from one country to the next and concerns over availability how does a yacht owner keep in contact with his fuel broker or fuel supplier when operating from offshore?

On smaller motor yachts where range is limited to coastal cruising, surfing the internet for marine fuel prices and availability followed by a call before departure is the most efficient use of resources.

When accessing a line ashore Broadband speeds range from 2Mb, 8Mb up to 24Mb. Data limitations from unlimited, 40Gb to 1GB. Some marinas are recognising the need for a Broadband connection and offer a plug-in point providing quick and easy access which can be utilised to get fuel market data and to email brokers, when alongside.

‘Marina’ Wi-Fi’ Broadband in the event there’s no nearby local Wi-Fi signal (hotspot) from a national provider; some marinas provide a wireless internet access service. One such company is Square Mile one of Europe’s largest marina providers covering 50 u.k. marinas with Wi-Fi access. MDL marinas in the U.K. provide their own Wi-Fi.

What happens when there’s no plug-in point at say an anchorage or the yacht is no longer in the marinas Wi-Fi hotspot coverage? Where there’s mobile phone coverage offering Mobile Broadband, this is a cost effective means of getting varying online coverage..

Mobile Broadband offers mobile internet access on the go. By plugging in a mobile broadband dongle to a laptop or computer onboard connection speeds of 7.2Mb to 1.8Mb and download data size ranging from Unlimited, 15Gb, to 1Gb. Limits of 1Gb and 3Gb are ideal for checking emails and doing light browsing, not enough for large files. Speeds depend on the signal of the mobile operator with whom you have an agreement, so first ask fellow yacht owners what signal strengths they obtain locally before purchasing.

Online one can search for available hotspots some of which are provided free of charge, Jiwire.com has over thousands of hot spots registered; just enter the post code of your marina to find out availability, another the Cloud, the cloud.net and broadbandexpert.com provides good package comparisons.

For those wanting complete coverage; to make phone calls or emails to purchase marine fuel or need to keep live contact with your office and transfer files Inmarsat have delivered a new Broadband system for mariners. The Satellite Broadband ‘Fleet’ range ‘77’, ‘55’ and ‘33’ system by Inmarsat provides Voice, fax, and data communications for both ocean-going and coastal vessels, delivered via a range of antenna sizes to suit different types of

Consider carefully your long-term requirements from broadband internet before purchasing and the benefits. If you’re checking real time weather reports, downloading updated charts, or allowing your kids to game online then look for a provider that can handle heavy broadband demand in the harbour of your choice. Mobile broadband on coastal passages is one of the less expensive means to keep in touch when there is a signal available. When making large marine fuel purchases timely communications from offshore can reduce fuel costs and also offset the investment in Broadband on board.

www.MarineFuelPoint.com

As November 1^st 2008 approaches and the end to UK Red Diesel derogation for leisure marine, yacht owners are sharing an interest in alternative fuels one being Biodiesel.  What are the benefits for boat owners and who will supply it?

Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-based diesel fuel made vegetable oils or animal fats.

There are many advantages of Biodiesel as a marine fuel

·         Biodiesel serves as a drop-in replacement for petro diesel — no conversion necessary.

·         Biodiesel when used in boats causes less water pollution – there is less smoke and it is safer to store.

·         Biodiesel production uses a third less energy than petroleum diesel production.

·         High lubricity extends engine life

·         Higher cetane rating (46-62) almost always smoothes engine operation

·         Biodiesel can be blended with petroleum-based diesel at any ratio

·         Biodiesel contains essentially no sulfur or aromatics. Blends as low as B20 have reduced soot exhaust by 83%. Biodiesel removes deposits in tanks and fuel systems left by petro diesel.

·         Cheaper than the current red diesel prices of 88pence per litre even before the additional 54.94p in duty to be added from 1^st Nov 2008.

Disadvantages

·         Doesn’t store as well as petro diesel

·         Possibility of blocked filters as it cleans the lines out and failed rubber seals as Biodiesel is a better solvent than mineral diesel

·         Blends of more than 5% (B5) to 95% (B95) may invalidate engine warranties

·         No Bio Diesel suppliers and blending facilities in marinas or boatyards at present.

Conclusion

Whilst at present there are no direct suppliers of biodiesel for boat owners, there are plans for the 2009 Portland Marina in Dorset to supply biodiesel and several marinas advise they have spare tank capacity to store another grade of oil.

A recent farm-based bio-diesel plant in North Wales has been reported as receiving interest from yacht and boat owners already. BML Biofuels, based at Llanfihangel GM, near Corwen is the first plant in Wales - and only the second in Britain - to extract oil by cold pressing oilseed rape (OSR).  At the resulting cost 45p-55p/litre for the first 2,500 litres plus tax, it’s then no surprise BML Biofuels has already received maritime inquiries as far afield as Portsmouth since its official June opening.

With the higher cost or red diesel and a government under pressure to meet renewable fuel targets Biodiesel is likely to become a key ingredient in the refueling of motor yachts over  the next decade.

www.MarineFuelPoint.com

Following the fall in the cost of a barrel of oil, waterside fuel suppliers reported a decrease in pump price with the average price of red diesel at 0.82p (13 fuel points) and petrol £1.35 (3 fuel points)

Light, sweet crude for September delivery rose $3.14 to US$116.26 a barrel halting a recent decline in price. Oil’s advance stopped a month-long slide that took crude $35 below its July high of $147.27.

 A protest by boat owners was organised yesterday due to grave concern over soaring prices of red diesel with the governments plans to withdraw red diesel derogation from 1st November. While the European Union is recommends a lesser ampount of 22p per litre price increase in the cost of red diesel, the British government is insisting on charging the full amount of duty an increase of more than double. The higher charges are expected to come into force on November 1.

13 boats were involved in the Fuel Protest at Medway and had been timed to ensure there would be no disruption to commercial activities on the waterway.

From the Humber Cruising Association three boats set sail from Grimsby Dock to oppose the planned increase in duty on red diesel by the Government.

If your want to tell us of any other protest action feel free to drop us a line?

Web Team www.marinefuelpoint.com

Marine red diesel in some areas of the U.K. last week was around 88p per litre and petrol at 125p per litre at waterside refuelling points, whilst marine LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is being sold at 44p per litre and has not followed the rapid increase Petrol and Diesel have over the last year. Is it the time to reconsider converting to marine LPG?

Advantages

• After taking into account the cost of conversion over a few years’ savings can be made. Hamble Marine Ltd claim a typical 250hp 5.7litre V8 engine consumes fuel at around 80lit/hr at full throttle and around 50 to 60 lit/hr while cruising. The cost of conversion (from £3,000 for a single petrol engine) can be recouped in about 100 hours.
• LPG has a low risk of pollution and pilferage.
• Emissions are more environmentally friendly than petrol and red diesel
• By retaining the fuel system the cruising range is extended and allows for dual fuel options.
• Refuelling is quick.

Disadvantages.

• At present there are a limited number of facilities providing marine LPG. The author is aware of one in Wales and five in southern U.K. so planning a cruise along the coast could be prohibitive due to lack of LPG or Petrol refuelling points.
• Due to the technical level of expertise and training required not all facilities supplying marine LPG can also provide the fitting and conversion expertise required.
• Most 4-stroke engines can be converted but not all.
• Safety is still a concern when talking to potential converters although that does not appear to have stopped countries like Holland and Australia who are quickly adopting auto-gas. Included in the conversion the electronic management system constantly monitors the engine bay and fuel storage tank areas for any leaks and will shut down the system before they reach a dangerous level.
• Specialist annual safety inspection required and test by approved engineers.

Conclusion

If one looks at current waterside petrol prices alone it would seem worthwhile for boat owners to reconsider converting to marine LPG where practical. A shortage of boat LPG refuelling points and conversion facilities at present will however constrain the expansion of marine LPG around the U.K. coast.

This week was marked by a mix of prices reported due to cheaper new deliveries of red diesel being recieved at some waterside refuelling points. Red diesel prices varied between 78p to 97 pence per litre. Of 10 fuel points surveyed average price was 88 pence per litre, further decline in the coming week forecast by suppliers.

On talking to the friendly chaps at Corpach, Caledonian Canal they passed on the details of the Crown Estate who have published for the first year their ‘Welcome Anchorages 2008‘

quote

A guide to the mooring and anchorage areas in the Clyde and Argyll sailing and cruising grounds has been produced for the 2008 season. Welcome Anchorages was supported by The Crown Estate through our programme of marine stewardship and we hope it leads to a wider enjoyment of sailing in Scottish waters as brings benefits to coastal communities from increased numbers of visitors.

unquote

Good luck guys and thanks to all who registered their waterside refuelling facilities supplying red diesel and petrol.

With Oil prices coming down from the high of $147 a barrel to $135, some fuel suppliers were hopeful prices per litre would at the very least stabilise!  Of 10 suppiers surveyed the average prcie for 1 litre of red diesel delivered (including 5% VAT) was £0.88. Petrol £1.13 pence and LPG £0.46.