Is Meths fuel ok on ferry to Spain?

[SteveParry]

I'm thinking of catching the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander with my bike for a cycle tour of Spain next week... I was going to fill up my new 500ml plastic Trangia fuel bottle with Meths and store it externally in the bottom cage of the bike. Would this be taken off me at Portsmouth? If so perhaps I should take it empty unused; so no trace of fuel would be detected. I could then try to take a 1 litre bottle of Bio-ethanol fuel separately in a pannier. Though I suspect the fuel bottle would be confiscated.

 

[iluvmybike]

Brittany Ferries don't allow meths, turps, white spirit etc I've just checked as we are taking some emulsion paint out for a friend. Gas cylinder (max 3 x15kg) are allowed as long as secured and away from heat source - but if u don't have a gas burner then that's no help. You can carry up to 5l of petrol or diesel but only in an approved container.

 

[Tanis8472]

Amazing all these cars with fuel in them get aboard isn't it

 

[iluvmybike]

Amazing all these cars with fuel in them get aboard isn't it

Yep seems daft - we had similar probs flying out to the Alps on mountaineering trips and not allowed to take any tiny gas canisters for our stoves

 

[iluvmybike]

Amazing all these cars with fuel in them get aboard isn't it

Course you could risk it - worst case is they confiscate it....

 

[jay clock]

I have cycled on and off ferries to France and never had any sort of check. You will be fine

 

[jay clock]

Brittany Ferries don't allow meths, turps, white spirit etc I've just checked as we are taking some emulsion paint out for a friend. Gas cylinder (max 3 x15kg) are allowed as long as secured and away from heat source - but if u don't have a gas burner then that's no help. You can carry up to 5l of petrol or diesel but only in an approved container.

I find 45kg of gas canisters trapped to my touring bike a real challenge

 

[psmiffy]

Course you could risk it - worst case is they confiscate it....

I have cycled on and off ferries to France and never had any sort of check. You will be fine

Are they still X raying random panniers on touring cyclists?

 

[ianrauk]

Are they still X raying random panniers on touring cyclists?

Never been checked either to or from the UK.

 

[psmiffy]

Went out in June from Portsmouth - they asked the questions - knifes, fuel etc and X rayed a single pannier from every cyclist going out

 

[ianrauk]

Went out in June from Portsmouth - they asked the questions - knifes, fuel etc and X rayed a single pannier from every cyclist going out

You must have that look about you

 

[jay clock]

I haven't been since May. But doubt they would look at a bottle in a cage.

 

[Tanis8472]

Bet they don't x-ray cars.

 

[Moodyman]

You must have that look about you

Yep, some people get all the attention. I've not had my panniers scanned, but I have been stopped a couple of times (by the Border Agency) on returning to the UK to be asked about my jollies. Where I went, who with, how long for.

 

[subaqua]

Put it in an Austrian wine bottle ....