Yachting Monthly - July 2018

Fines for UK-registered boats with red

diesel in their tanks will continue to

be suspended indefinitely in Belgium.

The Cruising Association (CA)

received confirmation of the move

from the Belgian Finance Office but

stressed that 100% fuel duty must still

be paid on all red diesel purchased

before a trip to Belgium. Receipts

proving payment must also be kept

for Customs.

The Finance Office said: ‘This

removes any remaining uncertainty

for the members and other yachtsmen

and women who wish to make

the crossing from the east coast

or channel ports to Belgium. This

status quo to the agreement will

not change, without warning, on

behalf of the boating community

in the UK,’ concluded the notice.

Last year, the CA urged cruisers

to boycott the country after an

English sailor was fined €500 for

having traces of red diesel in the

fuel tank of his Hunter Channel 31.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency

(MCA) is to look at its maritime

guidance notice for commercial

vessels MGN 280, after Douglas

Innes, whose company Stormforce

Coaching managed the yacht Cheeki

Rafiki, was found not guilty of

manslaughter.

Four men died when the Beneteau

40.7 lost her keel in 2014. Innes was

convicted in 2017 of failing to ensure

Cheeki Rafiki was operated in a safe

manner but the jury failed to reach

a verdict on manslaughter charges.

In delivering its not guilty verdict at

the retrial, the jury said it was ‘deeply

concerned’ about MGN 280, which

applies to small commercial vessels

like charter yachts, and recommended

it be reviewed and tightened.

Judge Mr Justice Teare said the

technical requirements for equipment

and machinery in a vessel did have

legal standing, although other aspects

of a general nature did not, and

should be considered best practice.

Throughout the trial there had been

conflicting evidence about whether

coding authorities should be notified

in the event of grounding. The court

heard Cheeki Rafiki grounded twice

in 2013. Neither incident was reported.

Section 27.7.3 of MGN 280 states

the authority should be notified

‘in cases where the vessel suffers

major damage’ or ‘minor damage

detrimental to the safety of the vessel’.

Head of the MCA Sir Alan Massey

said it would look at the jury’s

recommendations on MGN 280 and

would ‘review or [...] amend the terms

of that guidance notice’ if needed.

French catamaran builder Fountaine-

Pajot and Dufour Yachts are putting

final touches to merger plans. The

two firms, both based in La Rochelle,

have reached an agreement, although

staff are being consulted before the

decision is finalised. Fountaine-Pajot

will take a majority stake in Dufour

Yachts, though the companies will

remain separate. The merger aims to

open up new markets for the brands.

Fountaine-Pajot, which has launched

its new flagship Astréa 42, has a strong

presence in the Americas while Dufour,

which has unveiled its new 390 Grand

Large, is well established in Europe.

Fountaine-Pajot and Dufour merge

Rule review after Cheeki Rafi ki verdict

100

A 100-berth marina could be

built at Stornoway Harbour

under plans by the Stornoway

Port Authority to meet the

demands of Scotland’s growing

marine tourism market.

There’s an

app for that

14

The World

ARC 2017-

has concluded

in St Lucia,

with 14 yachts

crossing the

finish line at

Rodney Bay.

50

Brian

Saunders,

foreman at

Jeckells the

Sailmakers, has

celebrated his

50 th year with

the Wroxham-

based family

firm.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

A new free sailing app has

been launched which promises

to have the latest information

about marinas and anchorages

worldwide. Moorspots

encourages cruisers to submit

their own reviews of places

to moor and anchor.

PRIVILEGE CATS

Inspiration Marine Group is now the

UK and Ireland agent for Privilege

Catamarans after the boatbuilder’s

acquisition by Hanse.

RACING VETERANS

The injured veterans sailing charity

Turn to Starboard has launched

a new racing division, with offices

at Gosport’s Haslar Marina.

NEW PONTOON FOR MILLBAY

Plymouth’s King Point Marina has

a new wavebreak pontoon across

the entrance lock to provide extra

protection in floods and storms.

No red diesel fi nes in Belgium

UK boaters can now cruise Belgium without fear of red diesel fines

Douglas Innes

has been found

not guilty of

manslaughter by

gross negligence

Dufour will be run

as a separate entity

MJ Perris / Alamy

Andrew Matthews / PA

NEWS