davidbains
Well-Known Member
Can someone tell me whether it's practical to keep crossing between the Dodecanese islands and the Turkish mainland? Or is it much simpler bureaucracywise to explore first one country and then the other!?
Greece/Turkey
- Thread starter davidbains
- Start date
Talbot
Well-Known Member
continual crossing of that border is going to make somebody more than a tad suspicious.
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
The Greeks are paranoid about people smuggling across the borders. My boat is based in Kos, and they view anyone with suspicion who is moving frequently from Turkey and aint a ferry.
jimbaerselman
Well-Known Member
The boring bit is that, theoretically, each time you leave Greece for Turkey (and vice versa) you should check out with customs, immigration, port police etc, and you can only do this at a port of entry/exit.
However . . .
Once you enter Turkey formally you get a wodge of paperwork which is only occasionally inspected. You can travel up and down the coast as much as you like. If you happen to anchor in Greek waters for a night or three, no-one is going to notice - as long as you have valid Greek papers too.
So, when you first enter Greek waters, do it proper. Luckily, in the Dodecanese there are a large number of anchorages where no-one insists you book in with the port police. So it is easy to explain why transit from one Greek port to another may take 6 or 7 days. And should you accidentally happen to enter Turkish waters during those days, make sure you hold valid documents for Turkey.
So you can see the way it can work - you just have two sets of valid papers, and as long as you tell neither that you're visiting the other, you're OK. Not changing the courtesy flag is a bit of a give-away.
Having two sets of paper currently valid breaks the rules of both countries, and if found out, you risk fines. So, don't do it. Instead, spend time and effort filling in forms . . .
Happy hopping
However . . .
Once you enter Turkey formally you get a wodge of paperwork which is only occasionally inspected. You can travel up and down the coast as much as you like. If you happen to anchor in Greek waters for a night or three, no-one is going to notice - as long as you have valid Greek papers too.
So, when you first enter Greek waters, do it proper. Luckily, in the Dodecanese there are a large number of anchorages where no-one insists you book in with the port police. So it is easy to explain why transit from one Greek port to another may take 6 or 7 days. And should you accidentally happen to enter Turkish waters during those days, make sure you hold valid documents for Turkey.
So you can see the way it can work - you just have two sets of valid papers, and as long as you tell neither that you're visiting the other, you're OK. Not changing the courtesy flag is a bit of a give-away.
Having two sets of paper currently valid breaks the rules of both countries, and if found out, you risk fines. So, don't do it. Instead, spend time and effort filling in forms . . .
Happy hopping
peteremmons
Active Member
What formalities (if any) are required when you first enter a greek port?
I am leaving for Corfu in 3 days so I should know by now but dont.
www.sailingbambola.com
I am leaving for Corfu in 3 days so I should know by now but dont.
www.sailingbambola.com
MedMan
Well-Known Member
It depends where you are coming from. If another EC country you just need to report to the Port Police and obtain a DEKPA aka “Private Pleasure Maritime Traffic Document" for a flat charge of €30.00. It is a 6-page A3 booklet with spaces for checking in and out of all the ports you visit. If you are arriving from a non-EC country you also need to obtain customs and immigration clearance so you must arrive at a Port with such facilities. That can be very difficult so I would strongly advise you not to travel direct to Greece from a non-EU country.
At the moment the Greek authorities are concerned about Bird Flu. I have heard that they have asked visiting yachts, whatever their port of origin, to contact the Port Authorities on VHF Ch 12 to seek guidance and receive appropriate instructions.
At the moment the Greek authorities are concerned about Bird Flu. I have heard that they have asked visiting yachts, whatever their port of origin, to contact the Port Authorities on VHF Ch 12 to seek guidance and receive appropriate instructions.
peteremmons
Active Member
Thanks Med man
sounds staight forward
sounds staight forward
davidbains
Well-Known Member
Thnx Jim,
you're a model of clarity!
you're a model of clarity!
MASH
N/A
A3 forms for 30Eu? What the hell is this? Is this the iniquitous and illegal Greek "Transit Log" that is specifically NOT required (by Eu regulations) for Eu registerd boats? Have a care!
Even so I thought it had been scrapped at least for boats of less than 10m but there are persistent rumours that the news has not reached some of the further-flung outposts...
Med Man, I had no difficulties whatever entering Simi from Turkey last year. Went to customs and then port police with passports and a crew-list (apparently important - God knows why- dress it up and make it look pompous and official on the PC at home) and filled in a form or two whilst trying to chat to the bored-witless offficials. Cost me a few Eu to enter (forget, but a forgettable number, ten, maybe less) and a whole 98 cents for the night alongside...
Oh Doom!
No It's not difficult to enter from Turkey to, at least, Simi. The officials were as you'd expect bored young conscripts in big uniforms but smiles and friendly openness seems to do the trick. No surprises for me 'cept they did all the paperwork and then noticed my boat is under 10m. Oh [--word removed--]! (in Greek) He doesn't need the Transit log! big fuss. Change the bill! Thirty Eu less!
Hey, thanks fellas, I'm a few inches short of 10m and dont need that illegal log either!
I found then easy and pleasant to deal with.
Can anyone clarify?
Even so I thought it had been scrapped at least for boats of less than 10m but there are persistent rumours that the news has not reached some of the further-flung outposts...
Med Man, I had no difficulties whatever entering Simi from Turkey last year. Went to customs and then port police with passports and a crew-list (apparently important - God knows why- dress it up and make it look pompous and official on the PC at home) and filled in a form or two whilst trying to chat to the bored-witless offficials. Cost me a few Eu to enter (forget, but a forgettable number, ten, maybe less) and a whole 98 cents for the night alongside...
Oh Doom!
No It's not difficult to enter from Turkey to, at least, Simi. The officials were as you'd expect bored young conscripts in big uniforms but smiles and friendly openness seems to do the trick. No surprises for me 'cept they did all the paperwork and then noticed my boat is under 10m. Oh [--word removed--]! (in Greek) He doesn't need the Transit log! big fuss. Change the bill! Thirty Eu less!
Hey, thanks fellas, I'm a few inches short of 10m and dont need that illegal log either!
I found then easy and pleasant to deal with.
Can anyone clarify?
MedMan
Well-Known Member
You are confusing several different pieces of Greek bureaucracy.
The DEKPA is required of all EU boats, Greek and visiting, and is therefore legal. It was the so-called 'Circulation Tax' that was declared illegal and consequently withdrawn as it applied to yachts from other EU countries but not to Greek flagged boats. Non-EU boats have always been required to have a 'Transit Log' and still are.
The DEKPA is required of all EU boats, Greek and visiting, and is therefore legal. It was the so-called 'Circulation Tax' that was declared illegal and consequently withdrawn as it applied to yachts from other EU countries but not to Greek flagged boats. Non-EU boats have always been required to have a 'Transit Log' and still are.
davidbains
Well-Known Member
Medman, I will be returning to Greece from Italy this summer.
My old DKPA expired last year and obviously I need a new one.
Is it the other "Permision to stay" that is no longer required for EU boats?
My old DKPA expired last year and obviously I need a new one.
Is it the other "Permision to stay" that is no longer required for EU boats?
MedMan
Well-Known Member
Yes - I think that is what it said on it. I have only ever had one and that was a few years ago.
MASH
N/A
So what is it that costs lotsa money but isn't required if you are under 10m?
steve_cronin
N/A
David....
..my " Large-white-sheet-with-all-the-Greek-writing-and-boxes-to-stamp-on-it " doesn't get too many stamps in the course of the season unless I actually profer it to the Port Police - they just, apart from Mourtos, seem to want the money.
At this rate I'll be 95 before it gets filled.
Steve cronin
..my " Large-white-sheet-with-all-the-Greek-writing-and-boxes-to-stamp-on-it " doesn't get too many stamps in the course of the season unless I actually profer it to the Port Police - they just, apart from Mourtos, seem to want the money.
At this rate I'll be 95 before it gets filled.
Steve cronin
MedMan
Well-Known Member
Re: David....
Me too. I first got mine in 2002 and used it in Greece during 2002 and 2003. I spent most of 2003 and all of 2004 in Turkey and returned to Greece in 2005. The original DEKPA was accepted without question. I still have less than two pages completed!
Me too. I first got mine in 2002 and used it in Greece during 2002 and 2003. I spent most of 2003 and all of 2004 in Turkey and returned to Greece in 2005. The original DEKPA was accepted without question. I still have less than two pages completed!