Calling for assistance in Greek Waters

[jimbaerselman]

In the thread "Greek Court Action for Damage", it's obvious that quite a lot of people who charter in Greece are unaware of the possible consequences of calling for (minor levels) of help on VHF. I quote from www.jimbsail.info/greece

Cost of Calling for Assistance (!)

If a boat "problem" or failure initiates a call for outside help, and the Hellenic Coast Guard (usually known as Port Police) hear it, the episode is logged. Their regulations then require that boat papers held held until (1) a surveyor's certificate is obtained stating that the boat is seaworthy and (2) the report is allocated a reference number by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs (which can only be done during normal working hours) and (3) possible infringements of the law are investigated.

There is a standard charge just for issuing seaworthiness reports, depending on the registered LOA of the vessel; typically €400 to €700 for cruising sail boats. This applies whether or not the surveyor makes an inspection.
If there's an infringement of the law, prosecutors will be informed, and the boat's skipper may be summoned to appear in court. This may often be years after the event. Keep all evidence of such events (amounts paid etc) in the event you are accused of "Causing a Shipwreck" (ie, bumping a rock and calling for help) minimum penalty 2 years imprisonment.

The "Causing a Shipwreck" case affected a charterer nearly 6 years ago. Last year, 5 years after the event, now a CA member, he received a summons to attend an Athens court. The CA Local rep recommended a local lawyer. The case was dismissed - "There was no Shipwreck, the vessel arrived in port".

If any injury occurs on board, this is also a possible cause of criminal charges for negligence.

Reports of VHF calls for assistance causing a boat to be detained are common. This is a strong disincentive for using VHF in emergency. Greek vessels 'phone their mates if they need a tow - bypassing the risk of investigations for criminal negligence - and the delay and cost a "make-work" survey.

 

[LadyInBed]

beware of greeks bearing VHF sets! :nonchalance:

 

[actionoptics]

That is why the lead crew of a flotilla "insist" you call them on a designated VHF or use your mobile phone to contact them, almost no matter what the problem.
Only call a mayday as a last resort.

 

[tudorsailor]

Last week I was in the marina at Mykonos when the unfortunate skipper of a Bavaria made a complete hash of getting into a berth. He ended up resting on several yachts bows. The marina's dock hand made everything worse and then had a blazing row with an owner who argued with him. Shortly afterwards the port police arrived - suitable armed! They took the owner away for a chat but I don't think he was fined. It seems that there was a low threshold for their intervention.

Maybe the Port Police were called due to the possibility of 3rd party yacht damage.

TS

 

[[163233]]

That is why the lead crew of a flotilla "insist" you call them on a designated VHF or use your mobile phone to contact them, almost no matter what the problem.
Only call a mayday as a last resort.

Yes, had this drummed into us a while back too, they were very keen to put people off mayday calls, which I thought was perhaps risky.

Apparently there's something about handing your lines to any potential assistant rather than accepting a line from them as well?

 

[RichardS]

Yes, had this drummed into us a while back too, they were very keen to put people off mayday calls, which I thought was perhaps risky.

Apparently there's something about handing your lines to any potential assistant rather than accepting a line from them as well?

That's a bit of a corruption of messages I think. In some places you need to be careful about the guy on the harbour wall helping with your lines as you will be expected to pay him. I can't see any prospect of the guy claiming salvage by handing you his lines.... Which is something of a corruption in itself.

Richard

 

[[163233]]

That's a bit of a corruption of messages I think. In some places you need to be careful about the guy on the harbour wall helping with your lines as you will be expected to pay him. I can't see any prospect of the guy claiming salvage by handing you his lines.... Which is something of a corruption in itself.

Richard

Quite possible, this is a while back, and the guy seemed a bit woolly about it himself.

They were adamant about the mayday's though, you went down with your ship on that flotilla..

 

[paharrop]

From your comments do you suggest if the guy had phoned the charter company and not radioed them the issues wouldn't have been logged

Thanks

Paul