Dunkirk Formalities

dolabriform

dolabriform

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Hi all

We're thinking about going foreign this weekend, and as Calais is a PITA having to trek to the PAF I was wondering about Dunkirk.

I thought heard that they were part of the exemption scheme where one could do everything with email forms and not have to visit the PAF, but I'm having trouble finding the info.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this?

Many thanks

David
 
When I went in the summer it looked as though they were on the list, but nobody had set it up with the marinas. Reports were similar for the other local ones - Gravlines, Calais, Bouloge.

Have not heard anything recently of any change to this. Perhaps for next season....
 
I had written confirmation from Dunkerque port and verbally from Gravelines marina that they have not yet set up this scheme ,despite being on the published list.
I suspect that it is the local PAF ,responsible in this region ( as opposed to the Douane responsible to the West) with their concentrated immigrant issues that are reluctant to bring this into force and that they will hang on until the long awaited Schengen IT system actually appears.
Having been recently to Calais on a day ferry trip and used the free 'Baladin' bus from its near stop to the marina : 'Pl.D'Armes' to and from the passenger Ferry Terminal I had decided that subject to weather etc.I might try Calais as a first stopping point next year.Particularly as the PAF office is in plain sight of the ferry terminal where the bus terminates.
See the route and hours on here.Morning buses every 22 minutes ,afternoon every 11 minutes.Not on a Sunday.
Imag'in Calais Opale Bus
See the close proximity of the main ferry terminal building and the PAF office.You no longer have to trek out of the town to get signed in.The PAF building straddles the secure fence so you can approach it from the outside.
Thanks to previous posters who have described this route.Although the bus times are restricted this doesn't seem particularly onerous.
CalaisferryPAF.jpg
 
Thanks for the confirmation; it is as I feared then :(

I've been to Calais and had the fun of going to the Ferry terminal. As this would be a weekend trip returning on a Sunday, the lack of a bus makes it a no go unfortunately.
 
In Dunkirk, you need to go to the ferry terminal, which is quite a trek from the Marinas (about 10 miles).
 
John_Silver said:
With the tide under you, Nieuwpoort is only a couple of hours on from Dunkerque......May be more convenient, formalities wise. And a pleasant enough little town.
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Agree. Nieuwpoort is very easy for getting your passport stamped for entering or leaving the EU, particularly if you use the VYN marina Vlaamse Yachthaven Nieuwpoort.
 
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Can anybody confirm/have experiencethat Dunkerque Marina is now accepting the PAF

Looking to travel there on Sunday from Dover.

Thanks
 
PeterBoater said:
You might get a more accurate response if you specify which of the four marinas you have in mind.
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I would accept information on any as I’ve not been before, but I was thinking to heading to Le port de plaisance du Grand large (first as you come in), staying two nights before heading up the coast to Belgium.

I know it would be easier to ‘check in’ into Belgium but my partner is very keen to go to Dunkirk.
 
eebygum said:
I would accept information on any as I’ve not been before, but I was thinking to heading to Le port de plaisance du Grand large (first as you come in), staying two nights before heading up the coast to Belgium.

I know it would be easier to ‘check in’ into Belgium but my partner is very keen to go to Dunkirk.
Click to expand...

There's a new post by Tony Lavelle on an old thread about Dunkerque on YBW following his visit with the recent little ships visit. Sounded like a lot of hassle to me.

Edit to add Tony's post cut and paste style....

The horror stories about non-EU passport stamps are TRUE. We've just got back from 3 days in Dunkirk with the "support fleet" for the Little Ships on their 85th anniversary visit. Along with many of the other supporters and Little Ships we decided to come back on Friday at short notice due to the awful forecast for the next 7 days. Non EU passport holders visiting the Schengen zone need an entry and an exit stamp to prove they haven't overstayed the 90 day limit. Two of our three days were wasted on getting stamps in my passport.

We had spent our first day in Dunkirk trying to find the PAF (Police Aux Frontieres, the French border police) to put an entry stamp in my passport. As a "special favour" a small group of border police had come from the ferry terminal to the Yacht Club de la Mer du Nord in town to save those of us with non-EU passports the expensive 15 mile taxi ride to the ferry terminal where they are based. There's no public transport.

On the 3rd day we tried hunting down the PAF again for an exit stamp. We eventually found them in the afternoon, as before, in the yacht club but they only had an entry stamp. To get an exit stamp would require a trip to the ferry terminal. While waiting for a taxi I was informed that the stamp had to be done on the day of departure, not before, so I cancelled the taxi. As we needed to catch the tide at 4.30 am next day, this was out of the question. Just as I decided to give up and accept years of exile from the EU a policeman turned up with an exit stamp and the problem was solved for me and the many skippers and crew anxiously waiting.

The system of having to check in and out of Schengen via an airport or ferry terminal is completely impractical for visiting yachtspersons who don't have their own land transport and who may need to make last minute decisions according to weather forecasts. The situation at Dunkirk is extreme because the marinas in town are a long way from the ferry terminal and there is no public transport,



This is useful -

 
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It was not good experience for most on the Dunkerque trip, a baffling and annoying exercise for many and even worse for those who were in Grand Large.
Due to the inevitable Summer weather on its way most folks decided to cut and run early.
After some confusion somebody persuaded the folks with the vital little passport stamp machines to come up to the YCMN clubhouse to stamp passports, this was fine for those moored in YCMN and who also happened to be floating around at the time.
Due to our late arrival we were last to arrive with the "support" fleet and had somehow "forgotton" to get stamped in.

Several experts suggested we just stay under the radar and go back home when ready.

Nipped up to clubhouse pronto and explained to authorities our situation, they found us on the list and with a sigh merely picked up one stamp with our arrival date on it and then picked up second with an exit date in it.
Did note that the lady running the club house did offer them some refreshment during the course of their stay.
All done and dusted in 5 mins at most.
 
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oldgit said:
It was not good experience for most on the Dunkerque trip, a baffling and annoying exercise for many and even worse for those who were in Grand Large.
Eventually the RTYC ? managed to get the folks with the vital little passport stamp machine to come up to YCMN clubhouse to stamp passports, this was fine for those moored in YCMN and happened to be floating around at the time.
Due to our late arrival we were last to arrive in the support fleet and had somehow "forgotton" to get stamped in.

Several experts suggested we just stay under the radar and go back home when ready
Rocked up at the clubhouse and explained to the authorities the situation, they found us on the list and with a sigh merely picked up one stamp with our arrival date on it and then picked up second with an exit date in it.
Did note that the lady running the club house did offer them some refreshment during the course of their stay.
All done and dusted in 5 mins at most.
Click to expand...
I am certain a lot of brits don't check in or out
 
Several of the experts above mentioned that they had done many crossings since B**** and had yet to trouble either Customs and Excise or Border Force with their trips.
 
xyachtdave said:
There's a new post by Tony Lavelle on an old thread about Dunkerque on YBW following his visit with the recent little ships visit. Sounded like a lot of hassle to me.

Edit to add Tony's post cut and paste style....

The horror stories about non-EU passport stamps are TRUE. We've just got back from 3 days in Dunkirk with the "support fleet" for the Little Ships on their 85th anniversary visit. Along with many of the other supporters and Little Ships we decided to come back on Friday at short notice due to the awful forecast for the next 7 days. Non EU passport holders visiting the Schengen zone need an entry and an exit stamp to prove they haven't overstayed the 90 day limit. Two of our three days were wasted on getting stamps in my passport.

We had spent our first day in Dunkirk trying to find the PAF (Police Aux Frontieres, the French border police) to put an entry stamp in my passport. As a "special favour" a small group of border police had come from the ferry terminal to the Yacht Club de la Mer du Nord in town to save those of us with non-EU passports the expensive 15 mile taxi ride to the ferry terminal where they are based. There's no public transport.

On the 3rd day we tried hunting down the PAF again for an exit stamp. We eventually found them in the afternoon, as before, in the yacht club but they only had an entry stamp. To get an exit stamp would require a trip to the ferry terminal. While waiting for a taxi I was informed that the stamp had to be done on the day of departure, not before, so I cancelled the taxi. As we needed to catch the tide at 4.30 am next day, this was out of the question. Just as I decided to give up and accept years of exile from the EU a policeman turned up with an exit stamp and the problem was solved for me and the many skippers and crew anxiously waiting.

The system of having to check in and out of Schengen via an airport or ferry terminal is completely impractical for visiting yachtspersons who don't have their own land transport and who may need to make last minute decisions according to weather forecasts. The situation at Dunkirk is extreme because the marinas in town are a long way from the ferry terminal and there is no public transport,



This is useful -

Click to expand...
Thanks that’s really helpful.

I have emailed Port de Large asking if they process the PAF and they just replied with the email addresses of the PAF office and Employment office…..The PPF can be contacted by email:

Phone: 03.28.51.39.00

So looks like they do nothing to enable the process.

Thinking I will either go to Calais or just had to Belgium instead, it’s looks like just too much hassle at Dunkirk.
 
Parabordi said:
I am certain a lot of brits don't check in or out
Click to expand...
A police lady at Nieuwpoort suggested we did just that, saying " this is a problem caused by Britain not ours, we don't want the bother".
But some of our crew were going home by air. What would happen if they turned up at Ryanair desk with no entry stamp?
 
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