That's not quite the headline you will see but it is the precise effect of proposed rule change being introduced by HMRC, the UK tax authorities.
Under UK law, pleasure boats are allowed to use "red diesel" which is coloured with a red dye to indicate that the taxes payable for road fuel have not been paid. Red diesel is all you can buy at most UK marinas and harbour. There is no alternative available.
HMRC says it will introduce a measure to ensure that "red diesel for use as fuel for propelling private pleasure craft can only be used in UK waters. All purchasers of red diesel for use as fuel for propelling private pleasure craft will be required to sign a declaration to that effect." The gory details are here (PDF).
So if you have a sailing boat with a diesel engine, or a motor boat, or if you want to hire a yacht this year, or perhaps go on a course with a sailing school, you'd better not plan on crossing to France (or anywhere else).
Of course, the reverse restriction applies too. If you're a foreign yachtsman or woman and want to refuel when you arrive in the UK, bad luck. Unless you plan never to leave again, you'll have to find some way of purging your fuel tank as you reach the limit of UK territorial waters so you don't get caught out taking your red diesel away from the UK. A good way of cutting back on pesky foreigners cluttering up our harbours, but a pretty stupid idea otherwise.
Workarounds? Well, you can make multiple trips to the nearest garage and fill up with "white" diesel. I have a sailing boat rather than a motor boat and only need to fill my tank a couple of times a year. With a couple of jerrycans it should only take me a few dozen trips. For those lucky souls with a great big gin palace and a need for a few thousand litres of fuel each time they fill up, the situation will be different.
More background here is available on the HMRC website here and from the RYA. There's a petition too.
Although this legislation takes effect from April 1st, it is apparently not an April Fool's joke. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
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