Greek Transit log and crew changeover days

[simonck]

Hi, This might not be much information for someone sailing outside of Greece but for all that do, it might relieve a possible headache.

1) You've paid your Greek tepai cruising tax and intend to put your boat in the water on the first of the month. You turn up at the Customs office a day before armed with the regulation letter from the marina stating your boat is out the water and due to go in on the first, copies of Insurance, SSR, Tepai form, proof of payment of Tepai emailed to the customs office, your passport etc. The Customs will not issue a Transit log unless you pay all the Tepai for the month that is just about to finish. A better solution is get the yard to put your boat in last so you have time to get to the Customs office first thing on the first, get the Transit log and attend the Port police then belt back to the marina hoping you've made it or easier get the boat put in on the second.

2) Any crew changes are never considered on a Saturday or Sunday, it's changeover days for the Charters and marinas don't want to know you. Even Fridays can be painful.

These points might be minor for most but they were a monumental pain in the a£$& for us.

 

[AndrewB]

Don't understand your difficulty with the Transit log. It is normally issued only when you actually enter Greece: unless its the unlimited version, which is only issued once, not every season. Incidentally, In all the years I've been in Greece, I've had my Tepai checked but never my Transit Log.

I sympathise re changeover days. Here in Gouvia, it does not affect the marina operations or services (the queue at the office is no different), but all the local cafes are stuffed to bursting by expectant charterers, the aisles in the supermarket are choked as they dither over purchases of yet more cheap beer, while the pontoons are blocked by the incredible amount of luggage needed for a week's holiday spent T-shirt sailing. The biggest pain is that that they will be inexperienced and careless leaving their berth, so if you aren't there to supervise, yet another ding on your topsides.

 

[simonck]

Don't understand your difficulty with the Transit log. It is normally issued only when you actually enter Greece: unless its the unlimited version, which is only issued once, not every season. Incidentally, In all the years I've been in Greece, I've had my Tepai checked but never my Transit Log.

We're based out of Cleopatra marina and intended to get lifted in on the 1st at 9.30am. The Customs office would not issue our Transit log on the 31st unless we paid the whole months Tepai and we'd be breaking the law if we were lifted in with no valid Transit log. To us it seemed unfair paying over a hundred Euros to get a Transit Log the requisite 24hours in advance when the boat wasn't going to be in the water until the 1st. We solved the situation by rearranging the lift-in to 12.30pm giving us just enough time to visit Customs and Port Police.
I'm not sure about never having my Transit log inspected by regional Port Police. I have all my documents including Transit Log in a folder ready to hand over, They usually take them all away and photocopy everything. Sometimes they can be very bureaucratically efficient requiring i's to be dotted etc.!!

 

[AndrewB]

Sounds like it is Tepai rather than the Transit Log which is your real problem. If you arrive in Greece, or recommission, on the 31st of a month then you are liable for the whole month. Equally if you leave, or go out of commission, on the 1st of a month, then you are liable for the whole month. Yes, that's a pain - most of us who come out for part of the year have been caught by this one.