A Cowes boatyard has warned that ongoing marine fuel supply problems could disrupt businesses, visiting yachts and one of the Isle of Wight’s biggest sailing events, with concerns mounting just days before the start of Cowes Week.
Lallows Boatyard says it has experienced repeated reductions in fuel deliveries – and, on some occasions, complete delivery failures – leaving it unable to meet customer demand during one of the busiest periods of the sailing season.
The business says the shortages have already affected both local boat owners and visiting vessels, with fears the situation could worsen during Cowes Week.
Kevin Downer, Yard Manager at Lallows Boatyard, has written to Island Echo describing the issue as a ‘critical infrastructure failure’ that is undermining confidence in Cowes as a destination for visiting sailors and the wider marine industry.
He says the yard ran out of petrol last week and was unable to secure a replacement delivery until Tuesday. When the delivery arrived, only 2,500 litres were supplied despite an order for 8,000 litres.
According to Mr Downer, the fuel lasted less than 24 hours during the British Classic Yacht Regatta and the company has since been told no further delivery will be made until Tuesday (28th July).
A spokesperson for Lallows has said:
“We are increasingly having to apologise to customers because we simply do not have the fuel that we ordered.
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“Some customers have questioned whether we are ordering enough fuel or even paying our bills. We want to make it absolutely clear that neither is the case.”
The company says it places a standing weekly fuel order, increasing quantities whenever higher demand is expected, and that payments to Certas Energy are collected by direct debit with its account fully up to date.
Lallows says that after widespread fuel supply issues last year, it was assured a dedicated tanker and driver had been allocated to serve the Isle of Wight. However, the company claims the situation has deteriorated rather than improved.
Ahead of the busy sailing season, the business says it supplied Certas Energy with details of major yachting regattas months in advance to help forecast demand and requested three deliveries during Cowes Week.
The spokesperson added:
“Cowes Week is one of the busiest periods of the year for marine fuel.
“Our concern is not only for our regular customers but also for the many visiting sailors who rely on us to keep their plans on track. We can only hope that the deliveries we have requested are made in full.”
Lallows says it has repeatedly sought explanations from Certas Energy but has received no satisfactory reason for the ongoing shortages. The company also says it contacted its local MP for assistance and was later informed that the supply issues had been resolved, despite the problems continuing.
The business further claims that after making a previous formal complaint to Certas Energy, its account was frozen and fuel supplies were suspended until the complaint had been dealt with.
Established in 1867, Lallows says it has supplied marine fuel on the Isle of Wight for generations. Following the closure of the East Cowes fuel storage depot, the company says Certas Energy is now the sole importer of fuel to the Isle of Wight, leaving businesses with no practical alternative supplier.
Lallows says it has decided to make its concerns public in the hope that greater awareness will lead to a swift resolution before further disruption is caused to local businesses, residents and the thousands of visitors expected for Cowes Week.
A Certas Energy spokesperson said:
“We want to reassure customers that there is currently no impact to fuel supplies to the Isle of Wight.
“Operational issues around vehicle capacity meant that on this occasion we were unable to deliver fuel requested by an individual customer.
“We successfully supplied a high volume of fuel to the Isle of Wight Festival recently and look forward to contributing to another excellent Cowes Week.”
For those worried, there is another fuel barge in Cowes harbour, located just south of the chain ferry. They don’t seem to have an issue with supply at the moment. The staff are really friendly too!
So we have competition in retail but not in supply. What’s stopping any other supplier driving a tanker-load across on the ferry – surely not a stitch-up?
Won’t be a problem, the elites will have reserves sent over.
The pink short brigade won’t ruin their yearly event.