Fresh diesel lets fishing fleets go back to sea

Fresh diesel stocks are beginning to circulate after a contamination crisis that has crippled much of the country's commercial fishing fleet.

One tanker carrying 9 million litres of fresh stocks arrived in Dunedin yesterday, and another 12 million litres were expected to arrive in Nelson today.

Fresh fuel was pumped on to fishing boats in Napier and Gisborne on Wednesday.

But the Maritime Safety Authority had a warning for all boaties ahead of Queen's Birthday weekend.

"Our message is one of caution," said authority director Russell Kilvington.

"If you have filled up with diesel in the last two months, you should not take the risk and go out in your boat.

"Fuel tanks should be emptied and refilled with uncontaminated fuel before any trip is contemplated.

" The availability of clean fuel varies around the country and commercial boats are getting priority."

Mr Kilvington said that if boaties wanted to refuel for the weekend they should seek technical help, and should also check their insurance policies.

Oil companies have moved to replenish diesel stocks, emptying present supplies and refilling tanks with fresh diesel as it becomes available.

They have also urged boaties against dumping diesel - a practice that is illegal and environmentally hazardous.

Fishing boat owners said yesterday that some oil companies were hampering their return to sea by refusing to help them dispose of the contaminated fuel.

The Fishing Vessels Owners' Association said that the distribution of fresh diesel was going well.

Some companies were more than helpful, but others had been tardy or had even refused to pump boats out.

Association chairman Pete Dawson said oil companies had given contradictory messages.

Some said there was plenty of storage space for dirty fuel; others said there was none.

Mr Dawson said none of his members had asked the association about seeking compensation through the courts, but "the longer these oil companies are lethargic, the greater the chance that class action will be taken against them."

The Federation of Commercial Fishermen also declined to say whether it would take a class action against the oil companies.

Its president, Peter Jones, said it was too early to assess the situation properly.

In Whakatane, charter boat skippers said their fleet had been forced to a standstill.

- NZPA