Lallows Boatyard in Cowes says persistent problems with its fuel deliveries have left it struggling to serve customers through one of the busiest weeks of the sailing calendar.
The long-established Island business says it has faced repeated cuts to the amount of fuel it receives, and on some occasions no delivery has turned up at all.
Boat owners on the Island and sailors visiting for the season have felt the knock-on effect, according to the boatyard and today (Wednesday), Cowes Harbour Commission say petrol is currently unavailable at its Fuel Berth.
Boatyard responds to customer doubts
A spokesperson for Lallows explains why staff have started apologising more often,
“We are increasingly having to apologise to customers because we simply do not have the fuel that we ordered.”
The spokesperson says some customers have started to question the business itself,
“Some customers have questioned whether we are ordering enough fuel or even paying our bills. We want to make it absolutely clear that neither is the case.”
Lallows places a standing weekly order with its supplier and tops this up whenever it expects extra demand.
Certas Energy takes payment by direct debit, and Lallows says its account stays fully up to date.
A problem that never went away
Fuel supply issues disrupted much of the UK last year, and Lallows says it received assurances at the time that a dedicated tanker and driver would cover the Island to stop the problem happening again.
Lallows says the situation has got worse rather than better since then.
Cowes Week under pressure
Lallows sent Certas Energy a schedule of the Island’s major yachting regattas months ahead of the season, giving the supplier plenty of notice to plan for the extra demand.
The boatyard requested three deliveries to cover Cowes Week itself.
A spokesperson set out the stakes before the event began,
“Cowes Week is one of the busiest periods of the year for marine fuel. Our concern is not only for our regular customers, but also for the many visiting sailors who rely on us to keep their plans on track.”
Complaints raised, few answers given
Lallows says it has asked Certas Energy repeatedly for an explanation and has yet to receive one that accounts for the ongoing shortages.
The boatyard also raised the issue with its local MP, and says the MP’s office told the company the supply problems had been resolved, despite deliveries continuing to fall short.
Lallows says a previous formal complaint to Certas Energy led to its account being frozen, with fuel supplies halted until the company resolved that complaint.
A business rooted in Island history
Lallows has traded since 1867 and has run from its current Cowes site since shortly after the Second World War, supplying marine fuel to the Island across generations.
The closure of the fuel storage depot at East Cowes left Certas Energy as the only importer of fuel to the Island, and Lallows says this leaves it without a realistic alternative supplier.
Update: shortages deepen as Cowes Week continues
Lallows Boatyard ran out of unleaded fuel at 11am on Tuesday, and Cowes Harbour Fuels confirmed this morning that it has also run dry, for the same supply reasons.
That leaves no outlet in Cowes harbour able to supply unleaded fuel to visiting boats or safety boats during the regatta.
Lallows expects a delivery of unleaded fuel tomorrow morning, though neither the timing nor the quantity has been confirmed.
OnTheWight has approached Certas Energy with questions about the issues with fuel supply. They responded,
A spokesperson for Certas Energy said,
“We want to reassure customers that there is currently no impact to fuel supplies to the Isle of Wight.
“We will always look to support our customers when additional product outside their normal order is requested, where possible. Our priority is to continue supplying product, as usual, to a broad range of customers right across the Island.
“We are doing all we can to ensure supply of fuel at a time of extremely high demand.”
Article edit
5pm 5th Aug 2026 – Certas comment added
