Rigilao
New member
If arriving by boat from Italy with a swiss boat do you need to go through immigration or is port police and Customs sufficient to obtain a transit log?
Check in greece
- Thread starter Rigilao
- Start date
TSailors
Active member
Since you're traveling within the Schengen Zone, there is no passport control due to freedom of movement. However, you must still report to the Port Police (Liménarchio) upon arrival.
Rigilao
New member
Ok, so PP - customs - back to PP is sufficient
dgadee
Well-known member
Stay away from the Port Police. That was my policy during my four years there. Anchoring out most of the time makes it easier.
lask
Member
lask
Member
lask
Member
Please be careful what you write in here because people who should not read it are reading it, which may cause problems in the future for others.
dgadee
Well-known member
That was the advice I received by an expert in Greek regulations. It was good advice. I would give it to any other UK boat owner in Greece.
I am not sure what problems you have in mind. The port police appear to be badly instructed and have very little to do. Not an ideal situation.
Chris_Robb
Well-known member
Not such good advice from your expert. I spent many years being the main contact with the Customs and Port Police for the Cruising association. I can assure you the the advice you received was very dangerous and could lead to large fines because you have come across one of the nit picking PP. I general there were few issues with Port Police in the Ionian - but get out into the wild east and there are definitely PP who choose to enforce the rules - and yes they are the rules - archaic perhaps- and pointless, but never the less that is the law. Several people who did not check in and out of every port ended up with €6000 fines - required in cash - you know where that goes.... but never the less in all cases it was always pretty unpleasant dealing with that type of PP - and they do exist.
You certainly need to be squeaky clean if you have an accident - especially if someone was heart - even the skipper - you will be treated as a criminal until you persuade them otherwise - the proverbial book gets thrown at you with every infringement you have made.
You know - paying lip service to their rules is not difficult - just go along with it - its their country what aver you think - unless your name is Putin.
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dgadee
Well-known member
I must have misunderstood you. I quote from the CA document I believe you wrote:
"The advice that you should NOT go to Port Police or Customs if not asked still stands as that is the law. Exception - when you arrive in Greece you must report... Additionally those yachts left in the water for the winter will need to lodge their documents to declare out of use at Port Police for teh E-TEPAI. So it may be impossible for these to avoid Port Police."
I was in the Aegean at the time and we discussed this with you by email. I am onboard and only have access to more recent emails so am not able to locate those at present.
"The advice that you should NOT go to Port Police or Customs if not asked still stands as that is the law. Exception - when you arrive in Greece you must report... Additionally those yachts left in the water for the winter will need to lodge their documents to declare out of use at Port Police for teh E-TEPAI. So it may be impossible for these to avoid Port Police."
I was in the Aegean at the time and we discussed this with you by email. I am onboard and only have access to more recent emails so am not able to locate those at present.
Chris_Robb
Well-known member
What a laugh - the Limited transit log changed that - and in the Aegean ignore that at your peril.
So yes its still right to not report except for the LTL requirements - unless they specifically ask you - even then I would ignore until the 2nd request!!!
but do not underestimate the shit they throw at you if there is an accident.
So yes its still right to not report except for the LTL requirements - unless they specifically ask you - even then I would ignore until the 2nd request!!!
but do not underestimate the shit they throw at you if there is an accident.
dgadee
Well-known member
I was inspected three times by PP without hassle. The coastguard once. I never had a transit log. I left Greece last September after 4 years. Not sure where the laugh is but I certainly took your advice to stay clear of the PP. Anchoring out certainly made it easier.
Chris_Robb
Well-known member
Glad you found me helpful! I sold the boat in 2022 - so am really out of the running now. The AADE really became almost violent towards us as we had taken then to the EU commission so many times - the top brass banded their director level from talking to us! We had to that point got on extremely well and constructively. The whole of the sailing tax would have collapsed if we had no got involved to finesse the final product. It did actually work from day one pretty well - but left to them it would have been an initial disaster.... we also got to within a bees dick of pulling off a 180 day visa instead of 90 days - they actually passed a law to put it in force - but we found that the home office had not answered their emails re work visa..... Our embassy called me to tell me - and said as this was my negotiation not theirs , Tht I needed to chase the Home office - I had a meeting with the top brass. (cant remember the MPs name). they had to accept the skilled workers visa - BUT the pay was minimum £30K which the Greeks were not prepared to pay for their teachers at the Greek schools. So it died. Annoying as my original negotiation did not have that in the the equations - but it was quite fun getting it that far - and disappointing to fail. It all started as a bet that I could pull it off, from another CA member, so I am £100 lighter!
My maritime transport now is a Drascombe Longboat Cruiser - I have come full circle from 1978 when I last had one!!! Grand children love it!
dgadee
Well-known member
Yep, you were certainly a positive asset to the CA. I am really not sure what is going on in Greece now, but it is the perfect place to hide out from officials - all those anchorages. Why would anyone want to go onto a quay and be blasted with pop music all night?
Chris_Robb
Well-known member
That's why I left. Everying changed after the lockdowns......Catermarans blocking every harbour, G and T sailors. No idea how to anchor. It must be a nightmare with bad weather expected. Inevitable trawling for anchors at 3 am..... glad i got there in 2010!
Pm me with you name.....