Premier Marinas is replacing the 6,000-litre unleaded fuel tank at Gosport Marina with a new 30,000-litre facility, as part of an investment of more than £370,000 in the marina’s fuel service.
The fuel pontoon will close to all vessels from Monday, October 19, while the work is carried out. The closure is expected to last six weeks, with timings subject to weather conditions.
As well as the larger unleaded tank, the project includes a fuel-polishing system for the refurbished marine diesel tank, intended to maintain the quality of the diesel supply, together with new fuel pipework and a new interceptor tank.
Premier estimates that Gosport Marina currently supplies 25,000 litres of marine diesel and 8,000 litres of unleaded fuel a week. The company says the extra storage will cut the number of fuel deliveries needed and lower the risk of supply interruptions as demand grows across Portsmouth Harbour. The pontoon serves customers at Premier’s Trafalgar Wharf and Haslar Marina as well as Gosport, along with commercial and external vessels.
Jonathan Walcroft, Marina Manager at Gosport Marina, said:
“Increasing our unleaded storage capacity to 30,000 litres will make a substantial difference to the reliability of the service we can provide.
“As demand has increased, our existing capacity has become more limiting. The larger tank will mean fewer deliveries are required, giving us greater resilience and helping to reduce the risk of interruptions to supply. Fewer deliveries will also mean fewer fuel tanker movements to and from the marina.
“We appreciate that the temporary closure will cause some disruption, and we are giving customers and harbour users as much notice as possible. Premier berth holders will still be able to access fuel at cost at Port Solent during the works, and once the work is complete, the upgraded facility will provide a more reliable service for the wide range of vessels that use Gosport Marina.”
Fuel During the Closure
Premier berth holders can refuel at Port Solent Marina while the Gosport pontoon is shut, and continue to use the Premier Advantage scheme, under which petrol and marine diesel are sold at Premier fuel pontoons at the price it costs Premier to buy and dispense the fuel. Port Solent will also be available to external vessels where appropriate, subject to its normal operating arrangements.
Updates on the works will be posted on the Gosport Marina page of the Premier Marinas website.
Premier Marinas operates marinas along the south coast and, following its acquisition of Boatfolk in September 2025, a further portfolio of UK locations. The company is wholly owned by Wellcome, the global charitable foundation, and transfers its residual profits to Wellcome each year via Gift Aid. Earlier this season it reported £1.6m in complimentary visitor berthing delivered to its customers.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
