European Transit Log

[DavidParky]

As ever I need your experiences please! I am looking to buy a Fairline Phantom in Greece that has no tax paid. The broker has informed me I do not need to pay tax as the UK is outside the EU (I need to register the boat in the UK) therefore I just need to arrange a transit log which is valid for 18mths however after 18mthas a new transit log can be setup so again no tax. Has anyone been given the same advice or had experience of a transit log?

Thanks

 

[jrudge]

Unless is is a Greek thing there is no general requirement to check out /in when renewing the 18 months.

you do however require proof to show if asked. Likewise you will need proof that the boat has exited the Eu every 18 months and hence is not liable for vat

 

[Mistroma]

It's a Greek Transit Log, not a European one (though you can keep the boat in EU waters). You do need to take the boat out of European waters once every 18 months in order to reset the clock and be able to remain without paying VAT. An overnight stay somewhere with proof (marina invoice?) and in theory even just sailing into international waters and returning the next day (but problem proving that).

I know that Greece has it's own rules and remember discussion here post-Brexit with some boats only getting a Transit Log for 1 month. You will need to show your once a year and I think Port Police still stamp it.

When was the vessel last outside the EU? It may have already be too late or possibly only a short time left to run. I hope others will come along and clarify the tax situation for you. I don't know what happens if you change to UK registration wrt maintaining VAT status (sounds reasonable though).

I seem to remember that Transit Log used to be issued with no consideration of how long the boat had already been in EU waters. It meant that you could arrive in Greece after 17 months in the EU and get an 18 month temporary importation transit log. Perhaps they assumed you must have been in international waters to get to Greece.

Remember that the Transit Log is only for the boat and you might be limited to 90 days in every 180 days. I assume that you know this already but if not, do you also have an EU passport (e.g. Irish)?

 

[DavidParky]

Really useful thanks. I have heard that everytime I enter a marina I need to have the log stamped by port police - sounds like lots of admin and waiting around, do you know if that is correct?

 

[Mistroma]

Really useful thanks. I have heard that everytime I enter a marina I need to have the log stamped by port police - sounds like lots of admin and waiting around, do you know if that is correct?

I don't have a Transit Log and hope to avoid it as my boat has been in Greece for several years and was VAT paid anyway. I believe that yachts with a TL are required to report to Port Police, on entering or exiting a Greek port. However, it will vary in reality in different parts of Greece and I doubt many bother in the Ionian. I don't think that the TL would be stamped everywhere but it certainly used to be a requirement. You should keep a current crew list and I think that is stamped when it changes. You also need to pay TEPAI of course. I've only had my TEPAI examined a couple of times and that wasn't in the Ionian. I'm around 100 euro/month for TEPAI and wouldn't want a fine for not having it.

 

[DavidParky]

I don't have a Transit Log and hope to avoid it as my boat has been in Greece for several years and was VAT paid anyway. I believe that yachts with a TL are required to report to Port Police, on entering or exiting a Greek port. However, it will vary in reality in different parts of Greece and I doubt many bother in the Ionian. I don't think that the TL would be stamped everywhere but it certainly used to be a requirement. You should keep a current crew list and I think that is stamped when it changes. You also need to pay TEPAI of course. I've only had my TEPAI examined a couple of times and that wasn't in the Ionian. I'm around 100 euro/month for TEPAI and wouldn't want a fine for not having it.

How do you find cruising in the Ionian? Which marina are you in? We have spent the last 10 yrs boating in North Wales so finding my feet with Greece at present. We are looking at Preveza marina.

 

[Mistroma]

How do you find cruising in the Ionian? Which marina are you in? We have spent the last 10 yrs boating in North Wales so finding my feet with Greece at present. We are looking at Preveza marina.

We haven't been back since October 2019 but hope to spend 3 weeks in Greece from middle of next week. Our boat is in the Ionian Marine yard and won't launch until 2022. Ionian has been fine as long as you avoid the crowds. We don't use marinas and normally anchor most of the time with town quays in some places. You can easily pick places and times to have a dreadful experience in the Ionian. We learn the flotilla timetables and keep out of sync. in areas they frequent.

I wouldn't want to leave a boat in the marina on Cleopatra side as it can get lumpy. You'd also need a car or be limited to taxis or short boat trip each day for shopping. The marina on the Preveza side is much better from the point of, eating, drinking, shopping and shelter. I believe that it is expensive, especially if you have a berth and then go cruising. I imagine the Fairline Phantom would be able to scoot back to the same spot every night but that is a bit limiting.

Are you flying out for the odd week of sailing or planning to live on your boat for most of the time?

We aren't normally limited to the Ionian but do watch timing for Cyclades to avoid the worst winds.