Getting Diesel
31 May 2010 | Wreck Bay, San Cristobal, Galapagos
Yesterday, we had diesel delivered to our boat.
What an experience! We had envisioned the process somewhat differently.
The agent who helped us sign in to the Galapagos told us that he could make arrangements to get fuel delivered right to Gromit. There are no docks or marinas here for cruising boats. He told us that his guy would bring out 20 gallons jugs and that he would, with his hand pump, pump the fuel into out tank.
We thought that all this would be done from the boat which was bringing the jugs of fuel. Silly us!
So, we weren't ready for the 100 or so gallons of fuel to be placed on our deck. Diesel was leaking everywhere and I was running for a tarp and rags.
The men, who'd brought a hand pump, began pumping from the first jug. Their pump had an inline filter and having heard many stories about the consequences of dirty fuel, Michael also had it run through our Baja filter, just to be sure. After the first jug, the pump stopped working. The flow slowed down so much that one of the fuel guys suggested we use just a hose. Yup, he set is up, leaned over and siphoned the diesel with his mouth to get it going. He had to repeat this a few times and Michael and I wondered how much diesel he was taking in.
Here in the Galapagos, there are two fuel prices. The national price, for the people, is about $1 per gallon. The international, for the boaters, is about $3 per gallon. The fuel purchase, which includes a receipt, is supposed to go through the Port Captain's Office, to make sure that the correct price is paid by the boaters. We have a strong suspicion that the process for acquiring our fuel was not the proper one. We did pay the higher price, but wonder about who pocketed the difference, which we believe should have gone to the Port Captain's office. We are going ask the guy who arranged the fuel about our receipt. We'll see what happens.