Boaters Best Practice Fuel

To reduce the amount of oil and fuel entering the marine environment from your boat follow our best practice advice.

• Install an inline bilge filter to catch oil and fuel before it gets pumped over the side
• Check your bilge before pumping as oil and fuel can leak from the engine and gather in the bilge
• Use a drip tray under the engine to catch leaks (this is a legal requirement on many inland waterways)
• Use a bilge sock to absorb oil and fuel in the bilges
• Use a funnel when pouring fuel or oil.
• Use a fuel collar to catch drips when refuelling
• Avoid overfilling your tank to reduce the risk of fuel overflowing from vents
• Allow room for expansion in the tank
• Maintain fuel lines, connections and seals to help avoid leaks
• Transfer oil and fuel in proper containers
• Dispose of waste oil at appropriate facilities
• Dispose of oily or fuel-soaked materials in hazardous waste containers
• Avoid using oil and fuel on the pontoons, other than on those dedicated to refuelling
• If possible, on land do not use oil and fuel within ten metres of the shore
• Contact the relevant environment agency to report any oil spills or call the 24 hour pollution hotline on 0800 807060
• Never use detergents to deal with spills. Detergents may disperse the fuel or oil but they can be more toxic to aquatic life than the oil itself
• Carry a spill kit on board and learn how to use it
• Consider using biofuels
• Find out where you can dispose of or recycle old oil at the oil bank line
• Never store oil and fuel in areas which are prone to flooding, extremes of wind or tide

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