Clearing into Turkey - entry points near Bodrum

mgraveling

mgraveling

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Have checked other threads on this issue, can't find anything specific for our query.
We are in Paros at the moment ( Naousa ) - lovely place -they've nearly finished the marina - we've just plugged in to the electrics as the guys work! Next step Amorgos. We are heading for Bodrum (Yatlift) and had in mind to clear out of Greece through Kos and clear into Turkey through Datcha. I understand that clearing in Bodrum through itself is a real paperchase. One option recommended by another boat moored here was clearing via Rhodes and Fethiye which is apparently more straightforward but we want to avoid going further South at this stage if poss. Advice on options and procedures would be greatly appreciated. We hope to get to Turkey in the next couple of weeks.

An additional point - if we fly home for a month then return in Sept, can we just continue to use the transit log that I hope we'll have obtained on entry?

Thanks,

Mike
 
You must leave your boat in a Customs recognised marina or Boatyard. Normally a Transit Log will last one year as long as the boat does not leave Turkey
 
You can clear in at Turgutreis marina, as an alternative to Bodrum or Datca. In Turgutreis I think it is quite easy with all the formalities in one place. Datca is also easy with an agent in a first floor office facing the quay, who charged €80 including the cost of the transit log when I had to renew my transit log last June. He did everything while I had lunch in a nearby restaurant.
 
That sounds quite reasonable compared to some of the prices being mentioned. Sounds a better option than going out of our way to Rhodes and Fethiye.

Will also check out Turgutreis marina.

That's just what I need - where are the offices and who's the man to do the business at a reasonable price?

Thanks for your help, Norman.

Mike
 
Hi Mike
Turgutreis is ok for checking in but I understand they no longer do the visas, you have to go to Bodrum for that, so it sort of defeats the object. We have friends who recently had a torrid time at Datcha, they say it was a very bad experience, so maybe Bodrum is your answer or Marmaris Yacht Marine, where the agent charges 35€ for his services, and you have your visa, transit log etc on top, plus marina fees or anchor in the bay by the marina. Maybe a bit more homework to do.
Derek
 
You're right to avoid Bodrum (you'll start by paying an extortionate fee for two hours in the marina - there is nowhere else to go), and leave Rhodes well alone too - not yacht friendly at all. Simi is a nightmare harbour where you're almost guaranteed to get your anchor fouled - if you do use that island suggest you anchor in Pethi bay and walk/bus/taxi over the hill into town. Bureaucracy there is not too bad.
Datcha is is a breeze. The agents - there are more than one - are along the compact harbour-front and obvious. Shop around for a good price, But 80Eu inc is outstanding. Fits perfectly with Kos. That's my preferred in/out.
 
In Datca, you will go stern to on the public jetty. You will probably be opposite one of the restaurants. If so, step off the boat and turn right and you will soon see the agents office, with a board outside advertising services. My €80 price was for a renewed transit log, which was stamped by customs and harbour-master. Clearing in needs port police and a health stamp as well, but I doubt it will cost much more and may even be same price as the port police are in the same building as customs, and if I remember correctly from the only time I cleared in there, the customs man also applied the health stamp. I find Datca a pretty friendly place, even though they now charge about 45 Lire a night for mooring with water and electricity.
 
She's 10.36 metres and, as you say, there is no tonnage info on the SSR certificate.

Guess it all depends on how rigorous the checks are and any future requests for inspection.

Mike
 
Thanks Norman - that's very useful info which appears to be the best bet for us at the moment.

We leave Paros and head for Amorgos tomorrow and will lose the free municipal wifi that we've been enjoying in Naousa marina ( the marina is currently free ). Won't be able to tap into the forum for a while.
Thanks to all who have offered advice.
Hopefully, we'll be in a position to give a view of the current state of play when we've been through it ourselves

Thanks again,

Mike

'Restless of Southampton'
Westerly Vulcan
 
Yes I'd be interested in the current state of play also - for it can certainly vary with time. We tried to clear out via Dacha three years back and the Harbourmaster would not allow us to do so as we did not then have an ICC. Then attempted via 'agents' to be told the harbourmaster was very upset and would only consider issuing clearance if we paid a 'fine'of 150 euros on top of the 80 agent fee.
We sailed onto Bodrum and cleared out from there in five minutes.
Look forward to hearing of your own experiences.
JOHN
 
Just had a wonderful 10 days sailing in Turkey on a friends boat enjoying the coastline around Finike and Kemer.
The backdrop of mountains and the many inlets and Islands are spectacular.
One problem my friend had was that his boatyard had previously organised his transit log and when he arrived to start the season it had a mysterious unknown Italians name on the log and no stamp from the issueing office.
When he tried to get our names added to the log he was advised to not show it again until he had got it sorted at the issuing office and that theoretically he coud be in big trouble for it not being correct and with us onboard unofficially.
We also heard of one owner who tried to leave Turkey one day in excess of his 90 day visa and was arrested at the airport, held overnight, very heavily fined and had difficulty in getting a new visa for many weeks after being slung out of the country.
 
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Clearing into Turkey near Bodrum

We finally arrived in Turkey four days ago having cleared out of Greece through Pothia,Kalymnos and cleared into Turkey through Turgutreis.

As our final destination was the Yat Lift boatyard near Bodrum we decided that the trip to Datcha, an entry port which had been recommended, from Kalymnos then back to Bodrum would be an 80 mile round trip.

As Turgutreis was only 14 miles from Kalymnos and just north of Bodrum it was the easiest option. We had originally planned to clear out of Greece via Kos but were delayed in Kalymnos for a week waiting for the meltemi to ease and discovered that a visit to the local police station and then the port police was all that was needed to clear Greece. We duly paid 16 euros for a week on the quay and 5 euro ‘exit’ tax and that was it – next stop Turkey.

Turgutreis marina was 40 euro a night ( 10.36 metre Westerly Vulcan ) but after a week on the quay it was a bit of comfort we had earned – lovely marina with finger pontoons, swimming pool and attentive staff.

The marina office provided us with the required Turkish transit log at a cost of 45 euros and said that the harbour master would often put the boat details on the computer system for no charge but if the marina did it they would charge 25 euros.

The Harbour master’s and custom’s offices are all next to the marina in Turgutreis under the same roof. The harbour master was very accommodating but could not get his computer to connect to the necessary website to complete the documentation. He did ask if I had an ‘official’ document to confirm the tonnage of the boat (11.5 gross). I only had my Adlard Coles logbook with the boat details in the front. He seemed to accept that as an official document! So back to the marina office where they typed in the boat details on line and only charged us 20 euros for so doing. Back to the harbour masters office where we were provided with health forms to complete and clutching the log and docs we visited the health office, visa office (paid 15 euros each for visas) port police and finally customs. The whole process took a couple of hours. Fortunately we had been advised that the process was long winded so we were prepared. All of the Turkish officials we dealt with were very pleasant and helpful and made it as straightforward as they could.

Now to enjoy Turkey.

Mike

‘Restless of Southampton’
 
Clearing out of Greece through Kalymnos

After returning to Greece for a bit of Autumn sailing we were surprised when trying to clear back out of Greece again through Kalymnos to return to Turkey for the winter that we were unable to so do - that facility is only available on the island until October. The Kalymnos Port Police directed us to clear through Kos. This proved to be very straightforward if mooring in the harbour as the passport control is near the ferry terminal and the Kos Port Police are located just off the centre of the quayside.

Mike

'enjoying Turkey'
 
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