One of the country’s biggest marina operators has reported rocketing fuel sales ahead of the expiration of the red diesel derogation on November 1, 2008.

Premier Marinas told our sister magazine Motor Boats Monthly that sales are up by 8 per cent year-on-year, but the significant figure is how much fuel each boat is taking on.

It appears that instead of just putting in what’s needed, people are topping their tanks to the brim, leading to a whopping 28 per cent jump this month in the volume of litres sold compared to the same period last year.

Helping bring people to Premier’s fuel berths is a commitment to provide all customers with fuel at cost, as the company believes this helps “reduce the impact of the loss of the derogation”.

A jump in fuel sales is a trend expected to be repeated across the country as boaters prepare for higher diesel costs after November 1. From that date, all propulsion diesel will attract a duty of 50.35ppl, instead of the 9.69ppl currently.

Pete Bradshaw, MD of Premier, told MBM: “Whilst there has been an increase in our like-for-like fuel sales, I do believe that the overall impact of the loss of red diesel derogation has been lessened by the recent falls in oil prices.”