FOR QUALITY YOU CAN RELY ON, HEAD TO RUBIS IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
The Northern European hub for superyacht builds and refits is centred, around the prestigious shipyards of The Netherlands and Germany. After new build commissioning and sea trials or post refit handover, owners and captains are keen to return to their chosen areas of operation whether they be in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. The transit begins with a west passage through the English Channel before heading south and then east through the Gibraltar Straits into the Med,
or on further south for maybe a last stop in Las Palmas Gran Canaria, before making the west crossing to Antigua and entering the Caribbean.
With any long distance repositioning there is lots to plan, organise and arrange not least the largest expense which is likely to be fuel supply. At the western end of the English Channel, just after passing Southampton to the north and Cherbourg to the south are the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey where global and leading fuel bunkering physical suppliers Rubis, operate their regional service from with all tidal berths of 25m – 130m+. www.rubis-ci.co.uk/superyacht
The Channel Islands Guernsey and Jersey are self-governing and as such have their own tax regimes by agreement with the UK. No VAT is chargeable on any services and supplied products, or purchases and imported items for collection, to any vessel whether registered Private or Commercial. Therefore Rubis-CI is able to offer Superyachts some of the lowest fuel and lubricant prices across Europe, and for superior grade products. The Rubis Premium Superyacht Diesel is ULSD/AGO EN590, certified FAME free to ISO de-minimis and supplied with MARPOL documentation and samples. This is why Rubis-CI is the go to fuel stop for the majority of vessels heading south on a long haul transit.
Rubis is one of the few European suppliers that offer premium marine diesel which has sulphur less than 10mg/kg and flash point over 60’C for highest power output per litre and cleanest burn, and which is certified FAME free (ISO de-minimis) to avoid microbial growth (the Diesel Bug). For superyachts with petrol reserves for secondary vessels or aviation reserves for helicopters unleaded PU10 and Jet-A1 are also available as well as Shell lubricants, all in bulk supply. Latest developments are to include an offering of advanced 2nd generation hydro-processed bio-fuel which is also FAME free. This HVO renewable diesel, Rubis RD100 outperforms other biodiesels and fossil diesel and will cut global carbon emissions from diesel engines by up to 90% over its lifecycle.
Finally if that wasn’t enough reasons to make a stop at Rubis-CI, Guernsey and Jersey are not part of the UK or EU Fiscal Areas, therefore if a superyacht is in a tax window of limited duration in UK or EU jurisdiction waters, a visit to Guernsey or Jersey offers the opportunity of Customs Clearance at a non UK or EU port. This can then provide the start of a new tax window of which to re-enter UK or EU jurisdiction waters on.
After departing the English Channel vessels will likely have planned a long distance leg before the next bunker stop to enter the Med or cross the Atlantic for the Americas. The importance of assurance on fuel quality becomes even more crucial on these longer distance transits when weather windows, schedules, port calls and provisions have been planned accordingly. Disruption to these plans due to poor or off spec fuel leads to major cost liabilities on resolving the contamination, re-scheduling of ports and owner or charter commitments. This is where the name of quality and network of locations that Rubis provides is invaluable.
In the Caribbean, from the Bahamas, Cayman, Jamaica and Turks & Caicos in the West, French Antilles and Antigua in the East, down through St Lucia, Barbados and the Grenadines to Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana on mainland South America, Rubis has the region comprehensively covered.
For more details Tel: +44(0)1481 200800
or visit www.rubis-ci.co.uk/superyacht
