Diesel crisis keeps boats in port

3:00 pm - By JOHN HART

A big fleet of fishing boats sheltering in Napier from rough seas remained trapped in port after oil companies closed off supplies of diesel due to a problem with a winter additive.

The additive in the fuel, produced at the Marsden Point refinery, has caused blockages in fuel filters, resulting in engines losing power and eventually stopping.

Shell New Zealand, which operates the fuel pump in Napier's Inner Harbour, shut the pump down as soon as it became aware of the problem.

The other diesel supplier, Caltex, shut down its pump at the Port of Napier last night.

Shell retail manager Steve Foster said the company was not prepared to take the risk of having boats put to sea with the suspect fuel on board.

More than 40 fishing boats have been sheltering in Napier from big seas off the Wairarapa coast where they had been fishing for tuna.

Some put to sea yesterday and were being advised by radio this morning to return to port and to change their fuel filters regularly.

Hawke's Bay Seafoods manager Nini dEsposito said he knew of several boats affected by the fuel problem. One fishing boat travelling from Manakau to Napier had its engine cut out six times on the voyage.

The engine had been restarted after the fuel filters were changed.

Mr dEsposito said some boats might put to sea again but they would need to take extra fuel filters and change them frequently.

Fishermen at the port this morning said they had only just learned of the problem and had little option but to keep their boats tied up.

Napier Fishermens Association vice-president Mike Claudatos said the fuel problem was potentially very dangerous.

"Imagine what it would be like if you were punching into heavy weather and your motor cut out," he said.

"There is a real danger and fishermen have not been kept informed about what is happening."

A spokesman for Farmers Transport, Hawke's Bays largest transport operator, said the problem had not affected his company's trucks so far.

The oil companies became aware of the problem earlier this week after complaints from users. It was tracked down to fuel from the Marsden Point refinery, which produces 90 per cent of New Zealand's diesel.

Oil companies were working through the problem and might have to truck supplies of clean fuel into ports like Napier to get fishing boats going again.

But it could be some weeks before all stocks of the fuel had been replaced around the country. Petrol was not affected.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY