Red diesel thefts from boats 'likely to increase'
Personal insurance
11th November 2008
UK boat owners are increasingly at risk of fuel theft due to the rising price of red diesel, it has been claimed.
As of November 1st, all privately owned recreational boat owners in the country have been charged the top rate for red diesel.
James Roberts, a pleasurecraft insurance expert, said that while diesel theft is not a new issue for boat owners, the increasing price of the fuel is likely to precipitate a rise in thefts.
He commented: "Whilst security in marinas is good, boats on swinging moorings or bank side moorings are more vulnerable to theft and so it comes as no surprise that we've noticed thefts from craft on inland waterways in particular."
Mr Roberts added that boat owners could protect themselves from having to claim on their insurance policy by purchasing the kind of anti-siphon devices already commonplace in the agricultural sector.
The Inland Waterways Association has launched a campaign to retain derogation on red diesel.
