Aaland Islands -- Tax Free Diesel?

[Dockhead]

The Aaland Islands are a cool place between Sweden and Finland at the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia. I've sailed in them, but never in the capital Mariehamn.

These islands are semi-autonomous and are a tax-free shopping paradise. Finns and Swedes alike load their boats up with alcohol.

But what about diesel fuel? Does anyone know whether they sell tax-free diesel there? And where? I'm in the market for 2/3 of a tonne of fuel for the trip back to the UK, and am choking a bit on the Finnish prices.

[ihe2]

Hi Dockhead, welcome to our cruising grounds! Choose the Länsisatama (Western Harbour) for Your stay as it is better suited for bigger Yachts than the eastern one.

I'm afraid You cannot find tax-free diesel at the marinas (Itäsatama and Länsisatama) as it is illegal to use in boating purposes. Road side gas stations will sell red diesel as it is allowed for agricultural use. If I remember right You could find red diesel in Sweden in Dalarö, some 40 to 50 miles to the south from Stockholm. It is a very small but beautiful marina.

Those Finnish fuel prices are in the mid range compared to Swedish, Denmark and German fuel prices this summer. The highest price I paid during our Around the Baltic cruise this summer was in Sweden at 1,75 euros per litre.

Fair winds,

IHe

Swan 431 "CAID"

[Sandibar]

Dockhead, even though I'm Finnish the tax situation of Åland is not clear to me. I know there's a tax border between the EU and the islands. Fuel prices in general are similar to the mainland and so it seems fuels are taxed at a similar level. The tax is only partly VAT, which in theory you might save by bringing it out of the country, or am I missing something?
The big business is going on in the tax-free shops of the cruise ferries and it's mainly alcohol. They all stop in Mariehamn, to get out of the EU tax zone and can therefore sell booze cheaply. That business is so good, that the actual cruises cost almost nothing. Finns like their liquor .

Edit: Thumbs up also from me for Länsisatama on the western side of the city.
Edit 2: as jhe2 pointed out, the available tax free fuel is for commercial use only.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by ihe2

Hi Dockhead, welcome to our cruising grounds! Choose the Länsisatama (Western Harbour) for Your stay as it is better suited for bigger Yachts than the eastern one.

I'm afraid You cannot find tax-free diesel at the marinas (Itäsatama and Länsisatama) as it is illegal to use in boating purposes. Road side gas stations will sell red diesel as it is allowed for agricultural use. If I remember right You could find red diesel in Sweden in Dalarö, some 40 to 50 miles to the south from Stockholm. It is a very small but beautiful marina.

Those Finnish fuel prices are in the mid range compared to Swedish, Denmark and German fuel prices this summer. The highest price I paid during our Around the Baltic cruise this summer was in Sweden at 1,75 euros per litre.

Fair winds,

IHe

Swan 431 "CAID"

1.75 per liter! Ouch!

The fuel in Estonia at 1.18 is looking better and better.