Greece regulations - plumbing for emptying the holding tank

[Ric]

I am installing a holding tank to satisfy regulations in Greece. The tank is in the cockpit locker. Should I also install a pipe to a deck fitting to insert the suction hose? Or is the suction hose sufficiently clean and flexible that I can easily manhandle it into the locker?

 

[BabaYaga]

I am installing a holding tank to satisfy regulations in Greece. The tank is in the cockpit locker. Should I also install a pipe to a deck fitting to insert the suction hose? Or is the suction hose sufficiently clean and flexible that I can easily manhandle it into the locker?

Without knowing anything about how this works in Greece, my advice would be get a deck fitting (downstream of or to the other side from any water filling fitting).
The pump out equipment I have encountered has been far from flexible, sometimes the mouth piece is angled 90 deg, sometimes straight. I would not want to take that down a cockpit locker. And how can it ever be "clean"?

 

[macd]

There are pump-out stations in Greece? I suppose there may be, but I've never seen one.

Agree with BabaYaga, however, that if you're going to fit one you may as well go the whole way and make it compatible with pump-outs. If they're anything like the ones in Turkey, the deck fitting must connect to the tank via a dip-pipe, otherwise all it will do is suck air through the tank breather. The alternative is a removable dip-tube, which would get a bit messy.

 

[BabaYaga]

the deck fitting must connect to the tank via a dip-pipe, otherwise all it will do is suck air through the tank breather. The alternative is a removable dip-tube, which would get a bit messy.

Or put a T in the pipe between the tank and discharge seacock, easier in some installations.

 

[Tranona]

Not sure their are any regulations in Greece other than new boats need to be fitted with holding tanks. There is a general requirement to discharge waste offshore, but it is widely ignored by the thousands of boats that do not have any holding tank fitted. Also not sure there are any pumpout stations either, but if you are fitting the facility to pump out have your tank made with the dip tube and access point directly beneath where it exits the deck. There is a standard deck fitting which you can get from whoever makes your tank or from a specialist like Leesan. also worth designing your tank to have the inspection hatch on the top immediately above the outlet to the seacock.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have sailed in Greece for the past seven years. I have a holding tank but no pump-out connection. I have never seen a pump-out station and have cruised most Greek waters.

 

[Norman_E]

Or put a T in the pipe between the tank and discharge seacock, easier in some installations.

That is what I did on my boat, as it also enables the tank to be emptied completely, whereas a dip tube always leaves something in the tank. If your deck fitting has a chain to stop you losing the cap, you will need to cut the chain or it will prevent suction from the type of pump out device used by most places in Turkey.

 

[jimbaerselman]

I have sailed in Greece for the past seven years. I have a holding tank but no pump-out connection. I have never seen a pump-out station and have cruised most Greek waters.

+1 (but a few more years! And had a pump out access).

Holding tanks are not required by law for private leisure boats (unless there's been a recent change!)

Causing pollution is illegal. You will be fined heavily if your boat is witnessed and reported as discharging waste.

 

[vas]

I've only heard of ONE pumping station in Greece and that's in Chalkidiki, Porto Karras.
You probably wouldn't like to be there as prices should be astronomical.
OTOH, if you plan to move about, I think Turkey is getting more up to date and strict on that, so always worth fitting a proper deck fitting just in case.

cheers

V.

 

[duncan99210]

There used to be a pump out facility at Gouvia, part of the fuel berth setup. Never saw it being used and suspect it's either gone or abandoned these days.