The UK has been confronted with an EU directive to lower the sulphur content of its diesel from 1,000 parts per million to only 10 parts per million. Additives are being mixed in to restore the lubricating effect of the sulphur.
So what is the UK Cruising Association concerned about? A bio-fuel called Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), when added to diesel, can have a destructive effect on marine engines and dramatically shorten the storage life of the fuel.
Although the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (UK) says that FAME will not be added to diesel to be supplied to marinas, the Cruising Association recommends that everyone ask their diesel supplier:
- What is the age of the fuel and its sulphur content?
- Does the diesel contain FAME?
In the USA there’s been a long campaign against increasing the ethanol content of petrol from 10 to 15 per cent. So boat owners need to be careful where they source their fuel.
Here in Australia service station pumps clearly state that using petrol with 10 per cent ethanol is harmful to outboard motors. Its use can cause performance problems and permanent damage to the motor, fuel tank and fuel lines.
So, be warned!
GRAB BAG
1. Inspiration for Moby Dick
US marine archaeologists have discovered the wreck of the Two Brothers, a whaling ship captained by George Pollard. His previous ship, The Essex, had been the inspiration for Herman Melville’s novel – it was rammed by a sperm whale and sank.
The Two Brothers was found off Hawaii, where it had hit a coral reef in 1823.
“To find the physical remains of something that seems to have been lost to time is pretty amazing,” said Nathaniel Philbrick.
He has researched both ships and their captain, a native of his home, Nantucket, and written a book, In the Heart of the Sea: The tragedy of the whaling ship Essex. Nathaniel’s other books include Mayflower and Sea of Glory.
2. Pinchgut looked small
When the two queens – Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth – came into Sydney harbour the other day they made Pinchgut/Fort Denison look tiny.
QM2 was due to visit Lyttleton, NZ – at the epicentre of this week’s earthquakes – when she left Sydney. She has been re-routed to Wellington, due on Saturday.
3. Wooden boat heaven
In this month’s Afloat Bruce Stannard reports on Hobart’s Wooden Boat Festival. If you like wooden boats, it’s worth a read, Wooden Boat Heaven.
By the way, if you live outside Afloat’s circulation area, this ‘Priceless’ magazine is available by free subscription. Each month you’ll receive an email with links to the feature stories and all sections of the magazine.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: DEREK HATFIELD
I had to slow the boat down she was going so fast. It sounds funny that I would be trying to slow the boat down in a yacht race but it’s all about getting that balance between speed and safety.
Going too quickly can get very dangerous very quickly and we are not in a place where you can afford for anything to go wrong.
So said Canadian Velux 5 Oceans competitor, Derek Hatfield, after he had been woken by the humming of the keel of his yacht, Active House. Pulling on his wet weather gear and hurrying on deck, Derek found his yacht was screaming along at 21 knots in a 35 knot wind.
Derek was near Point Nemo in the Southern Ocean. It’s the place on Earth most remote from land.
The ‘we’ he was referring to is himself and his yacht – which is common among solo sailors.
That’s all for now, but please feel free to leave a comment.
© 2011 Bevanda Pty Ltd
Tags: bio-fuel, dangerous diesel