The amendment to the Regional Legislative Decree establishing the System for Monitoring and Controlling the Supply of Diesel to Agriculture and Fisheries in the Azores was published today in the Official Gazette. According to the legal document, fishing support vehicles may now use coloured diesel.
Hence, it extends coloured diesel to light commercial vehicles and mixed-use vehicles that provide support to fishing activities, namely in the transport of crews and fishing gear between ports, fish markets, collection points and gear houses.
This amendment was approved at the Legislative Assembly by proposal the Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology. It enters into force on Tuesday, August 8.
The System for Monitoring and Controlling the Supply of Diesel to Agriculture and Fisheries is directed to the owners of vessels licensed for the exercise of maritime fishing activities, upon the submission of an application. Furthermore, they are required to own light commercial or mixed-use vehicles used to provide support to fishing activities, with cubic capacity less than or equal to 3,000 cc and gross weight less than or equal to 3,500 kilos.
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology, Gui Menezes, pointed out the extension or coloured or labelled diesel to vehicles used in fishing activities will “contribute to the reduction of operational costs” incurred by shipowners.
The road diesel used by shipowners to supply their vehicles for fishing support costs 1.18 Euros per litre while coloured diesel costs 48 cents per litre, which represents savings of 70 cents per litre.