How about a floating petrol station

codprawn · 25 August 2004, 18:11

Good old customs HATE the bloke who is selling cheap booze and fags just off the coast - they have just seized his cargo yet again on a trumped up charge!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/3598040.stm

Can you imagine their reaction to a fuel bowser in international waters - petrol at say 0.28p per litre which even at todays prices still leaves 10p per litre for the retailer - yes petrol is still only 18p per litre on the spot market!!!

Gazza · 26 August 2004, 00:22

I've got a bucket and a pump.......

When do we start........ Or should we put a business plan together first...

Gazza

Andy Stevens · 26 August 2004, 09:08

Trouble with your "plan" is that as soon as you came ashore, the robber baron brown would be adding his duty. The way the fags works is that the duty has already been paid in Europe and fuel aint all that much cheaper out there.

I think a better idea would be to start a revolution or take the Isle Of Wight by force and declare independance. The UK would then attack but because the USA were involved most of the Uk forces will be mown down on the beaches of Ryde by friendly fire and we can just go the pub or out on our pocket battleribs.

Gazza · 26 August 2004, 09:37

Andy

Like the idea of an independant IOW..... We could then join Europe and get enough aid money to set up a Tax Haven.....

We could also claim refugeee status and get a free house and free fuel for the boats....

OK free fuel might be pushing our luck a little............

But a good thought......

Gazza

Andy Stevens · 26 August 2004, 09:48

Become independant of the UK and then join Europe?

I'm loading the gun now................

BANG

jn; juorhhhhhhh vvv;;;;;;;;;;;h uvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

(my head on the keyboard)

Jelly · 26 August 2004, 10:05

wasn't there a local council a few years ago that claimed UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Indipendance)

codprawn · 26 August 2004, 10:40

Apparently as long as the fuel is stored in the original tanks and not in jerry cans etc they really can't do anything - after all how do they know which petrol came from where?

Much the same as people filling up in Gib or Andorra and then driving into Spain or filling up in the Channel Islands before coming back to the mainland.

eupa · 26 August 2004, 11:11

As regards duty free Petrol ( gasoline). The official Brussels policy is as follows:
( this a Belgium custom officier told me about a year ago."

The wording is that "duty" is applicale only when the end use is road transport. This is the Law. no questions asked"

Any boat has the "right" to use duty free gas. Note VAt is not an issue here.
its the duty element and effectively increases the price by 4 times.On the same issue , a lawn-mower, hedge trimmer ,ultra liight has the same right. The problem is getting a suuply from the oil companies and assurance to C&E concerning the end use.Most ports ( eg Dover) will shudder if you ask them to have a 2000 storage tank.
At least in the Uk you can "claw" back duty. My boat is based in Nieuwpoort and the club has two tanks for refuelling. One is red diesel and the other unleaded 95 oct.BUT whereas the diesel is duty free, the gasoline aint. I am persuing them to change their policy - but thet have told me that the demand is not big enough. Nice people at this club, good food, good beer and cheap moorings, good ramps and believe it or not the water in the basin is pretty clean.

-Jonathan

codprawn · 26 August 2004, 11:57

unfortunately the British government refuse to accept that - they will only let you reclaim the duty if you use the boat commercially - god knows why!

TIM · 26 August 2004, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

unfortunately the British government refuse to accept that - they will only let you reclaim the duty if you use the boat commercially - god knows why!

In Ireland, if you use petrol on boats, even commercilly , you cant get the duty back... have to pay road prices....

I think its different in france though ????

I remember buying pertol for boats there , without the duty.....

We pay about €.98 per L or £.64stg

eupa · 26 August 2004, 16:07

A change in government is called for.The first to go should be C&E. /then traffic wardens/ then any government official in an uniform/Get out of the EC/renew ties to Canada/New Zealand/US. Every time I return to the UK
the same old questions- "good morning Sir, where are you going?, how long are you staying??. and this to a true bloodied Brit who chosses to live abroad.
Back to the subject ; here are the buying prices today in Belgium & Luxemborg at the pump: tax and duty paid:
Belgium
Diesel 0.869 Euro/liter ( 58p/liter)
95 super 1.110 " ( 75 p/liter)

Luxembourg
Diesel 0.695 " ( 46p/liter)
95 super 0.930 " ( 62p/liter )

100p= 1.5 euros. VAT included at 21% Belgium and 15% Luxemborg.

There is a vast discrepancy for this famous " european union" union of what I would like to know??

Jonathan

Biggles · 26 August 2004, 16:21

Pimlico............................

timw · 26 August 2004, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Pimlico............................

Between Westminster and Chelsea...can you get cheap petrol there?

Biggles · 26 August 2004, 17:34

It was an enchanting old film where they declared independance from the British Government.........................