Flares in Greece

Mistroma

Mistroma

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Joined
22 Feb 2009
Messages
5,238
Location
Greece for the remainder of summer
www.mistroma.com
I must have missed the change in Greek law. I tried to buy some flares today and tried 2 chandlers.

The first said they had none in stock and I'd need to visit Port Police and then civil Police to get permission to buy them.

The second one said I needed a certificate from the local Police before I could buy flares. However, a special license was needed to sell them and nobody nearby had a license. Nearest was a shop about 25 miles away. He thought there'd be a fine for having out of date flares and also one for not having any flares.

Normal for Greece.:D
 
I am led to believe that problems with pyrotechnics at Greek football matches has led to the problem of obtaining flares for genuine marine purposes, they have made obtaining them very difficult.
 
I wondered if it might be football related. Certificate from Police would be OK if they also allowed Port Police to issue them. Ordinary Police office is miles away and Port Police are at the port (not a surprise).

Still doesn't solve the problem of authorised places to buy. Sounds as if they made that licence difficult to obtain or too expensive.
 
Thanks for that, very usefulq. The process seems to require an interview with a local doctor to get his view of my mental state in a note he seals in an envelope. Then I find the correct options to create a paravolo for payment and take that form to a bank or post office to make the payment (plus a fee). After that it's simply a matter giving proof of payment, sealed medical report and copy of my passport to the police.

They request a criminal background check from the UK police and then I might get the certificate when the report returns.

After that it's just a matter of finding a licenced seller somewhere.
 
I have managed to get some more detail and process is as follows:

1. Obtain a certificate from a psychiatrist in a sealed envelope. I was told that I could contact one online and pay 50 euro. Not certain how that will actually work. Perhaps a Zoom call and certificate posted directly to the Police.

2. Declaration (Ypefthini Dilosi) filled in and signed at the Police station

3. E-paravolo (code 6193) completed online and paid at bank or Post Office (2.04 euro)

4. Boat registration. Not certain what this means. Register the boat in some system or present registration documents? Probably the latter.

5. Book an appointment at the Police Station to have a certificate issued. I assume the date won't be confirmed until they have completed their checks.

6. Find an authorised seller and present the certificate. No idea how long the certificate will be valid. Authorised sellers are few and far between, also likely to charge a premium.

I doubt many private boat owners will buy flares. I was told there would still be a requirement to have flares and fines for those without or having out of date flares.
 
Mistroma said:
I have managed to get some more detail and process is as follows:

1. Obtain a certificate from a psychiatrist in a sealed envelope. I was told that I could contact one online and pay 50 euro. Not certain how that will actually work. Perhaps a Zoom call and certificate posted directly to the Police.

2. Declaration (Ypefthini Dilosi) filled in and signed at the Police station

3. E-paravolo (code 6193) completed online and paid at bank or Post Office (2.04 euro)

4. Boat registration. Not certain what this means. Register the boat in some system or present registration documents? Probably the latter.

5. Book an appointment at the Police Station to have a certificate issued. I assume the date won't be confirmed until they have completed their checks.

6. Find an authorised seller and present the certificate. No idea how long the certificate will be valid. Authorised sellers are few and far between, also likely to charge a premium.

I doubt many private boat owners will buy flares. I was told there would still be a requirement to have flares and fines for those without or having out of date flares.
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By all means tell me I am wrong, but the regulations around what is required in your vessel for safety and emergency are governed by your State of Registration, not the one you are visiting?
 
That should be the case. But it's Greece and you never know how an official will interpret a rule. Just look at the VAT situation. Country where boat is registered, nationality of owner, whether it went out of Greek waters post Brexit and so on. All mashed together in ways that aren't relevant to a VAT paid vessel that hasn't left Greece since 2017 and been on EU since 2012.

I wasn't complying with th local rules, just refreshing old flares. I won't bother now and keep the old ones out of sight. No easy way around the purchasing rules.

I doubt many UK owned yachts will end up with new flares. However, it's now a problem to dispose of old flares.

Wouldn't be surprised if there's a black market in out of date flares. The hooligans using them at sports events will either stop or resort to that sort of thing.
 
Solent Cruiser said:
By all means tell me I am wrong, but the regulations around what is required in your vessel for safety and emergency are governed by your State of Registration, not the one you are visiting?
Click to expand...

Not the case. The coastal state can impose whatever rules they want on vessels in their waters, regardless of flag.

In this case, it's about the sale of the flares anyway, not about them being on board. Similar purchase restrictions apply in Portugal so we nip over the border to Spain and buy them over the counter.
 
capnsensible said:
Don't tell them that you are a Galatasaray fan because then they will know you are bonkers.
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I regularly wear one of my Galatasaray shirts when visiting customs and port police in Greece, and it invariably prompts a discussion about football with one of the officers. That said, I'm happy to admit to being a bit bonkers.
 
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