Spring 2011 | NEWS | FREIGHT | RESTORATION
Diesel supplies – the key facts
T
he British Marine Federation has published a guidance note on the Fuel Quality Directive. It contains specific advice and information on biodiesel and other changes taking effect shortly. The overriding concern is that some suppliers will provide road diesel with a red marker dye and this supply will contain up to 7% biodiesel or FAME (fatty acid methylester). The Department of Transport has completed a survey of fuel suppliers and estimates that 75% of the gas oil supply to the relevant sectors will be ‘sulphur free’ and will not contain FAME. Full details of this survey are not yet available but the following suppliers have made their intent public: Greenergy - Dedicated sulphur free gas oil no FAME content Ineos - Dedicated sulphur free gas oil no FAME content Mabanaft – Dedicated sulphur free gas oil no FAME content from five out of six terminals, one will have FAME content. This supply is likely to incur a price premium estimated at between 2 and 4 pence per litre. A FAME free supply may not be available in all parts of the country so it is critical that you discuss the situation with your fuel supplier who should be able to advise you of the sulphur and bio-fuel content of the fuel. Wherever possible a FAME-free supply should be secured in which case the implications of the change are expected to be minimal and limited to the lubricasity characteristics of the fuel which can be relatively easily addressed by the use of an additive. We have been informed that the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers are in the process of producing a chart highlighting the nationwide availability of sulphur free gas oil with no FAME content. We will distribute this information as soon as available. For further information please visit: www.londonboatshow. com/pdf/Fuel%20update%206Dec.pdf.
New Mole Launched
IWA, through its Restoration Grants Fund, recently helped to fund a river clearance boat, known as New Mole, for use on the Melton Mowbray Navigation. The vessel was launched in January, with a formal presentation party planned for the end of March when it is hoped to demonstrate the vessel at work clearing weed. The New Mole is an innovative workboat with a hiab crane, a clam shell bucket and stabiliser arms driven hydraulically by an outdrive from an air cooled engine. This avoids all the problems of weed with water-cooled engines.
Wanted -
Waterway Enthusiasts!
W
ould you like to get more involved with running IWA? Or having more of a say in what we do and how we go about it? We are always looking for members who might be interested in becoming more active at local branch and region level, or by participating on one of our national committees, or as a trustee of the Association. IWA has been well served by some long standing stalwarts, but it is important that we do not stagnate, and we wish to encourage interest from people with professional skills, ideally in current employment, or recently retired, to ensure currency of skills, in the following areas: legal, corporate finance, planning, IT, ecology, skills with younger people, engineering, retail, Health & Safety. Trustees and most of the national committees usually meet six times each year, although meetings may take place by electronic means such as telephone calls, video conference call or by exchange of electronic mail. Trustees are in charge of the governance of the Association and have overall responsibility for overseeing the correct running of IWA including succession planning. Trustees oversee the national committees, but delegate most relevant aspects to them. The main national committees are: n Navigation Committee n Restoration Committee n Finance Committee n Promotions and Communications Committee n Waterway Recovery Group Posts are by selection (by the membership via a ballot for trustees, and by recommendation to trustees for other national committees). We believe that there is a role for everyone somewhere in the organisation - and we will make every effort to try to find a role that gives people a sense of doing something worthwhile. Being a trustee or a committee member is not a ‘life sentence’ or necessarily onerous, and terms of service are usually for three year periods. There is a genuine opportunity to get involved and give something back to the waterways. Our aim is to involve more people, and spread the load, and take better advantage of skills on offer from members.
Current vacancies exist for fund-raising and membership recruitment in particular. Finance Committee will be formally seeking some new members over the summer. Look out for the formal notice for trustee nominations in our next issue - but think about it now and please have a chat with the relevant committee chairman. If you don’t know who to speak to, Neil Edwards or Jo Gilbertson at head office will be happy to point you in the right direction.
IWA waterways - Spring 2011 | News-Spring.indd 9
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