The recent case of the duty free off licence anchored off Hartlepool has highlighted the attitude that customs will take if anyone attempts to sell Red diesel from outside the 12 mile limit.
The basic problem is that customers will be re-entering the UK with goods where duty is then payable, this, given customs extraordinary powers, will make them liable for the duty (probably on the whole tankful whether or not purchased from said offshore bunker) and possibly liable to forfeiture of their boat.
Customs would only have to do this a couple of times to dissauade people from using such a hypothetical facility.
Now If I remember rightly, somewhere enshrined in international marine law, is the inalienable right for a vessel to take on fuel from another vessel...anyone like to clarify?? and which law takes precedence.
In the case of the Hartlepool operation, Customs had threatened to sieze the boats of anyone using the offshore facility. In the end they siezed the stock and vessel of the operator, when he went in to harrogate marina.
So looking at this it would appear that Customs would have us by the short and curlies if we lose the Derogation.
Steve.
Edited by steverow on 12/07/2004 15:40 (server time).
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Offshore Bunkering
Edit
Reply
Quote
