Greek Cruising Taxes

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Gypsy

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K&G Marinas, Greece have announced in their Feb04 newsletter that the Greek Government has passed a new law (L.3182/2003) which abolishes the “traffic dues” (a.k.a. “Cruising Tax") for EU flagged cruisers. EU boats will now only need a “Transit Log Book” which is said to cost Eu30.

As for non-EU cruisers it seems the cruising tax will still be levied as the main pressure was coming from EU members and a recent EU Brussels court decision which declared the cruising tax on EU vessels illegal under EU rules/laws.


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Excellent news, provided the individual Port Police Offices get to know about it and interpret the new rules in a consistent manner!!! I wonder if the 'Transit Log Book' (presumably the DEPKA already in use) will be multiple entry or not?

All we need now is for the Turkish Authorities to make their Transit Log multiple entry and cruising the SE Aegean could become a pleasure instead of the burocratic nightmare it is today.


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Sorry no website that I know of. My boat is wintered at Gouvia Marina in Corfu and they e-mailed me a copy of their newsletter, presumably to all clients, as a courtesy.

As for multiple entry as asked by another poster, chance would be a fine thing! One step at a time. Next you'll be asking for unfettered crossing between Turkey and Greece just because it is convenient and makes sense!
Cheers

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Take care with your Transit Log. I nurse mine to keep it clear of enrties, to make it last. [You have to buy a new one at the same price when it is full] But one port police man declined to stamp it when he saw it because it was last year's, despite it being stamped a few days before by a different police guy. This is a pleasant manifestion of the Greek System. Imagine the same scenario with our German friends.

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re. greek cruising tax (scarlet)
By 'nurse', did you mean (a) don't bother to report & clear, or (b) avoid ports where the P.P. are active, or (c) 'anchor off' all the time,?

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Yes to all three [a b &c] and always depart from the port where you have been stamped to somewhere with no Port Police [PP] Station even if you change your mind en voyage. Most PP routinly visit boats between 10 and 11 or 17 and 18. If there is no one on board they never come back looking for you. When you are asked to report to the PP do go and be very pleasant. Pay your couple of Euro with a smile and a kind word that makes his day better. The PP is doing a job he doesn't want to do but his boss has told him to. Always 'be staying for one night ' as you may not be asked again if you decide not to leave because of personal circumstances [ poorly ] or unfavourable weather forecast. The bad news is that you can be charged by the day and have to pay for the day you arrive and the day you go ---- if he feels like it.

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I agree with scarlett, keep a low profile. Not because I begrudge the small fee but because it takes time and can spoil a good day if you get a grumpy one. My experience is the smaller the port the easier the process. Worst so far was Rhodos where you have to go to 3 different offices just to get the log stamped. As Scarlett suggests, make your next stop a long distance away and then you can explain that you changed plans.

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You get your DEKPA (an 8 page document full of boxes to have stamped in and out at ports visited) at your port of entry. They will also decide, according to the weather, which way the wind is blowing, whether or not there is an omega in the month and the colour of th Port Captain's socks, which of a whole multitude of other possible taxes, to ask you to pay. Just smile and pay up or they will discover a few more!

Coming from Italy, I suggest you go to the marina at Gouvia on NE Corfu. The Port Police have an office on the marina during the season and we found them very reasonable. Whatever you do, don't go to Corfu Town. There is nowhere for yachts to moor and we received the worst treatment there we have experienced anywhere in the Med.

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I think Gouvia is Ok if you're coming from Italy, but not if you're arriving from Croatia.
The Gouvia PP will then insist you go to Corfu old port. There is somewhere to tie up, but the police are not that used to yachts. and may send you to immigration as well. The police at Preveza seem more friendly. Once you have your transit log, present it when asked and at a few other places if convenient. It's not necessary if you're anchored in a bay near the port. Always ask to be stamped out at the same time to avoid a second visit. In fact I visit the police on the day I leave. Tell them you're headed to some distant port rather than the next one. Then when you arrive say you've been at anchor in the meantime. The cost is nothing, it's the tedious inconvenience.

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Thanks for the info on Gouvia, I will have a temp crew in May who are flying back from Zakinthos. Weather permitting we'll probably head straight for the southern Ionian. Any recommended ports in the southern end?

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Have a look at the Port Reports and Passage Reports on my website (link below) for 2002. You will find quite a lot about the Ionian.

The Greek Ionian is amongst the most popular areas in the Med as it has so many things yachties are looking for: steady winds in the day, but quiet at night, clear water and good, cheap communications with the rest of the world. However, what it does not have are many safe, all-weather harbours where you can leave you boat for a while. There is the new marina at Levkas run by the same folk that run Gouvia but the majority of the others are lie-to-your-anchor-and-tie-back jobs. Fine for day-to-day cruising, but not so good if you want to leave your boat for a while. There are anchorages, of course, where we spent most of our time, but the most popular become very crowded in the season.

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And the main problem with anchor & tie back to quay mooring is that sooner or later some idiot will pull your anchor up after dropping theirs over yours the night before. If you're lucky they will dump it back down somewhere near where it should be and some kind neighbour will haul in the slack, but i've had mine dropped in again over the top of two other boat's chains excacerbating the problem manyfold!

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Happychap, you'll have no trouble entering at Zakynthos harbour, and probably Argostolion on
Cephallonia too, if you want to sail straight there. I presume you have the Greek pilot by St Rod. All the information lies therein.
I still suggest you enter at Preveza, and then pop thro the Levkas canal for sheltered sailing to
Zakynthos. Have a rest at Nidri on Levkas, you can anchor in Tranquil bay or Vliho Lagoon. Then Fiskardho on Cephallonia and points south to Zakynthos.

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Thing about anchoring in the harbour at Zakynthos town on a saturday night is that you need to love:-

a. loud disco music until 4am sunday.

b. one hour's sleep before:-

c. Church bells at 5am for an hour from three nearby churches

d. The service from the cathedral relayed by public address from 8am all around the harbour.

Otherwise it's a great place to visit.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
 
Aye, I wish that charter companies would include a trip hook as part of the inventory. We loaned ours to a crew in Aigina when they looked like pulling our hook out and had a job to get it back from them. I reckon it cost me around £9 but they offered €50 for it!

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
 
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