It’s the end of an era for Poole fuel barge owner

The Esso Poole Bay II fuel barge, currently moored off Brownsea Island, will sell its last diesel this Easter when current owner Chris Horn steps down after quarter of a century on the water.

“With the credit crunch people just aren’t using their boats as much as they did, “ said Mr Horn.

“All the government legislation, the ridiculous duty on fuel and my advancing years mean I’ve decided to move on.”

The 68-year-old grandfather says the barge still turns a profit and he’s hoping a white knight will come forward and take it over.

“We’ve sold fuel to a massive range of boats – there are few people involved in boating that have not been to the fuel barge,” he said.

The Esso Poole Bay II, registered at Lloyds of London, is 60ft long and around 120 tonnes when fully laden.

Mr Horn says the government and the current financial climate have battered the boating industry.

“A boat that takes 500litres of diesel used to cost around £250 to fill – now you’re looking at £750. And this happened almost overnight,” he said.

But the fuel barge, which also boasts a shop where boaters can stock up on provisions, holds many fond memories for Mr Horn.

“One of the funniest things I remember was when this Jack-the-lad type was coming in to refuel,” he said.

“He was in this 20ft old-fashioned wooden heap, the sort you don’t get on the water much today.

“As he came in he’s shouting to the girl onboard to throw the rope – but she doesn’t know one end of a rope to another.

“Now he gets angry, really shouting at her nastily. But unluckily for him, the rope loops over one of our big stanchions and pulled the whole stern off his boat off…I can still see his face today.

“I’ve had boats sink, crash into us, catch fire, people falling in nearby – I even had to take the rib out to reunite a sailor with his company’s boat, that had drifted off with a student onboard.

“It has been a fun, family business but it’s time to move on.”