Entering Turkey - what about an agent?

[AndrewB]

I'm intending to cross from Kos to Bodrum next week, for a month of cruising SW Turkey. before returning to Greece.

I understand it is necessary to appoint an agent in Turkey to deal with entry formalities. Can anyone recommend one, or will it be OK to leave it until I arrive at Bodrum marina?

Is Bodrum the best place to enter Turkey, or should I try somewhere else (not too far away)?

 

[sailaboutvic]

Andrew we entered in Datca and use Setma tours ( don't think I spelled that right ) but he near the round about in the harbour , no problem , just give him your papers and come back later , get a price before you give him you papers.

 

[Norman_E]

Datca should be fine. I have entered there in the past when you could do it yourself, and have also used the agent who has a first floor office on the harbour front. If you fancy a longer sail from Kos, or coming via Simi, you can check in at Bozburun in the summer months. Lodos Yachting (+90 534 624 37 70) will deal with formalities for you. I recently renewed my Transit Log there and recommend Lodos. The only oddity at Bozburun is that the Harbourmaster actually comes out of his office to look at your boat and wants you on the starboard side of the harbour! Altogether Bozburun is a nice little place to introduce you to Turkey.

 

[Carmel2]

Datca should be fine. I have entered there in the past when you could do it yourself, and have also used the agent who has a first floor office on the harbour front. If you fancy a longer sail from Kos, or coming via Simi, you can check in at Bozburun in the summer months. Lodos Yachting (+90 534 624 37 70) will deal with formalities for you. I recently renewed my Transit Log there and recommend Lodos. The only oddity at Bozburun is that the Harbourmaster actually comes out of his office to look at your boat and wants you on the starboard side of the harbour! Altogether Bozburun is a nice little place to introduce you to Turkey.

+1 used Lodos twice now, efficient and speedy on both occasions.

 

[AndrewB]

Thanks guys, it looks like Simi is the place to leave from, I'll decide whether Datça or Bozburun when I get there (currently in Patmos). Did you mean Seher Tours, Sailaboutvic?

Looks like it could get quite breezy by the middle of next week, so not sure exactly when I'll cross.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Thanks guys, it looks like Simi is the place to leave from, I'll decide whether Datça or Bozburun when I get there (currently in Patmos). Did you mean Seher Tours, Sailaboutvic?

Looks like it could get quite breezy by the middle of next week, so not sure exactly when I'll cross.

Yes they where the guy we used , if you email him , he will give you the cost of checking in , just one thing , if you anchor instead of using the harbour there an extra cost although we didn't pay it , so it may be wroth your while just to go into the harbour .

 

[Resolution]

Andrew
If you want to come across a bit more from Patmos you could do much worse than land at Turgutreis, excellent D Marin marina with full services including clearance agents AYL (+90 252382 8487).
Or you could try the new Gulluk marina where I think there is another paperwork agent.
Super part of the world for sailing.
Peter

 

[AndrewB]

I decided on Bozburun and Lodos, who were really helpful, so thanks guys for the advice.

The thing I didn't like was the cost. €190 for the two of us! The second highest I have ever been charged for entry into a country, after Australia. I had heeded the warnings here, so perhaps I shouldn't complain. "It will be cheaper if you come again", said Lodos. But there probably won't be another time.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I decided on Bozburun and Lodos, who were really helpful, so thanks guys for the advice.

The thing I didn't like was the cost. €190 for the two of us! The second highest I have ever been charged for entry into a country, after Australia. I had heeded the warnings here, so perhaps I shouldn't complain. "It will be cheaper if you come again", said Lodos. But there probably won't be another time.

Hi Andrew
It's a shame you didn't use who I suggested just after I given you the advise I email them , it's 90 euros plus visa .
Oh well enjoy turkey .

 

[AndrewB]

Hi Andrew
It's a shame you didn't use who I suggested just after I given you the advise I email them , it's 90 euros plus visa .
Oh well enjoy turkey .

It would have been €100 + visas in Bozburun, so not much different. That's what it would be if we came again. But as the yacht had never been to Turkey before it had to be 'registered', which was an extra.

 

[sailaboutvic]

It would have been €100 + visas in Bozburun, so not much different. That's what it would be if we came again. But as the yacht had never been to Turkey before it had to be 'registered', which was an extra.

Sorry Andrew , what this registered business? Not heard of this , is it new ? we never had to and S/T didn't mention it .

 

[AndrewB]

I think it is something to do with the new security arrangements for boats following the migrant crisis of two years ago.

 

[Irish Rover]

As far as I'm aware the only mandatory charge is the cost of buying a transit log which I believe is $35. There is no charge at the Harbour Masters, Customs, Health or Passport Control. I heard recently that the Health stamp is no longer necessary which, if true, simplifies the procedure. Apart from the language issue there is, as far as I'm aware, nothing to stop one following the procedures themselves but as most public officials only speak Turkish it is hardly practicable.
If your yacht has been in Turkey previously the details will be stored in the system so the form filling for the officials would be easier but there is certainly no charge for this. Generally agents see an arriving yacht as a one time shot to get as much as he can from you. It would help first time arrivers if posters would post exactly how much they paid to particular agents. I'd also advise confirming the price with the agent by e mail or whatsapp etc before committing so they can't add extras later.

 

[sailaboutvic]

As far as I'm aware the only mandatory charge is the cost of buying a transit log which I believe is $35. There is no charge at the Harbour Masters, Customs, Health or Passport Control. I heard recently that the Health stamp is no longer necessary which, if true, simplifies the procedure. Apart from the language issue there is, as far as I'm aware, nothing to stop one following the procedures themselves but as most public officials only speak Turkish it is hardly practicable.
If your yacht has been in Turkey previously the details will be stored in the system so the form filling for the officials would be easier but there is certainly no charge for this. Generally agents see an arriving yacht as a one time shot to get as much as he can from you. It would help first time arrivers if posters would post exactly how much they paid to particular agents. I'd also advise confirming the price with the agent by e mail or whatsapp etc before committing so they can't add extras later.

This is what I through and for sure what it was like last time we entered although that was three years ago now , that why I ask the question to Andrew .
any way I sure Andrew will enjoy it , Turkey as some great cruising to offer .

 

[satsuma]

The system in turkey for checking in and out is seriously flawed, but like most things, cobbled together in a semi functional procedure, the finer points of which, depend on which region/harbour master or other local official is interpreting the "regulations"! About 10 years ago, they proposed the idea of doing an online check-in, much as the tourist e-visa system now in use, but no sign of that still.
Always shop around if you can, for an agent, since their pricing can be astronomical, I know of one agent in the marina in kas who charges different rates based on flag! Russians were being charged up to 400euros for the pleasure!
You can only buy the transit log from the bureau of shipping who are the issuing authority, or from an agent if they are willing! But check-in/out is almost impossible to do yourself now, in some areas they insist that you cannot leave your boat (or the marina) because you haven't been to immigration/passport control!

 

[Irish Rover]

I just checked with the Marina here in Kuşadası and they told me there is an 80TL tax on top of the transit log charge - they’ve rounded the 2 combined to €46. The marina charges €70 to do the check-in procedure and the same for check-out. I would expect an agent to be charging less than the marina but in any event the max for checking in should be €116 including the TL and tax. I hope this helps.

 

[AndrewB]

Sadly I must withdraw my endorsement of Lodos at Bozburun.

He got me through immigration and customs well enough, but it fell apart when I went to see the harbour master for a blue card. For some reason I don't understand he wouldn't issue this at first. I went back to Lodos who rather curtly said that he had filled in the form and it wasn't his job to get it for us. (So why does one employ an agent??) After three days and a lot of running around the card was finally issued.

Other Brits I spoke to intimated I might have fallen foul of a personal antagonism between Lodos and the harbour master. Also, as suggested above, that I had paid over the odds. There are several agents in Bozburun and it seems that Pera Yachting Shipping Agency might have been a better choice - if I understood correctly, he offers a discount to CA members.

Perhaps I should have listened to you, Sailaboutvic. But Bozburun is a nice spot.