Marina Refuelling – Safety first

What are the challenges?

Thousands of small boats are fuelled at marinas on our rivers, lakes and seashores – this article looks at the challenges faced by the site owners and why choosing the right dispensing equipment is crucial for the health and safety of boaters.

There are the usual health and safety considerations associated with storing and dispensing fuel, such as fire safety and environmental protection. However, the very nature of refuelling at a marina, and the close proximity to water, creates additional hazards and increased environmental concerns relating to the protection of local wildlife from fuel spillage. Additionally, it should be noted that many recreational lakes and rivers are also a source of drinking water, and as a consequence, require extra regulations for the refuelling points to combat pollutants entering the waterways.

When forecourt fuel spills occur, a quick and easy clean-up can be actioned by site staff, usually in the form of sand being scattered over the affected area to soak up the fuel and later swept away for safe disposal. However, this is not the case for spillage at a marina refuelling point, as even a few small drops entering the water leaves a tell-tale iridescent, rainbow effect on the surface, and whilst unlikely to pose a contamination threat, it is extremely undesirable.

Guidance to help site owner ensure boaters’ safety

• Any fuel dispensing equipment should be located a sufficient distance from other structures to allow the safe access of boats to be fuelled.
• Dispensers should be a minimum of 7.5 metres from any other marina activity not associated with the handling of fuel.
• Only approved dispensing units should be used and may be located on open or solid-fill piers, wharves, floating docks or onshore.
• All nozzles should be fitted with a self-closing control valve (automatic shut-off) with a lever guard to prevent accidental dispensing.
• To prevent causing a trip hazard, it is advisable that extra-long fuel hoses should be stored on a heavy-duty, retractable reel (preferably stainless steel, to avoid corrosion), and ideally have piping disconnects with automatic shut-off valves in case of breakage.
• Ensure there is a fire extinguisher readily available to deal with small fires.

Guidance to help boaters refuel safely

• Adhere to any marina guidance and rules regarding refuelling on the site.
• Ensure that no one is on the vessel when refuelling takes place.
• Operate the dispenser by hand only – do not attempt to jam the nozzle in the open position.
• To prevent petrol vapour pooling in the confines of the boat – close all windows, hatches, and doors; also turn off all cooking appliances and other ignition sources before removing the tank cap.
• Avoid decanting petrol from containers where possible.
• Maintain contact between the hose nozzle and filler neck to avoid static sparks.
• Only restart the engine when satisfied the boat is free from flammable vapours.
• Do not overfill the tank to avoid overflow and use a drip tray to catch any stray droplets of fuel.
• Do not smoke in the refuelling area.