How to get an annual berth in greece in a municipial harbour?

[Irish Rover]

Well, when I make my move to greece, I will get a greek flag on the transom. Currently it's british, because I am in the UK and have been for a number of years, but once I go over there, the boat won't be under british flag. I'll arrive with the greek flag. Greek though, well, I will have to learn when I am there. I don't remember much besides Ouzo, Souvlfaki, Esfaristo and Kalimera/Kalispera haha

I wouldn't be too hasty in taking up some of the bot like advice you get on here, if I were you. Sometimes life is a lot easier in a foreign country if you're obviously foreign, don't speak the language, and you're not subject to all the local regulations. I've been living in Türkiye for over 20 years, and even though I speak Turkish reasonably well, I always speak English to Coast Guard officers when stopped on my boat, and police when stopped driving. 95% of the time they can't be arsed trying to speak to me in English, and wave me on. I also find it much easier to keep up to date and in line with the local regulations for my foreign flagged boat rather than trying to keep within the regulations that apply to local boats. I take my boat to Greece regularly and find the regulations for foreign flagged boats straightforward and easy to follow. The best advice i can give based on my experience is to talk to as many local residents as you can, both native and ex pat, and learn the lie of the land. You could get yourself in trouble offering a fifty to the wrong guy.
I should say also, that in my many dealings with Greek Customs and Coast Guard I've always found them helpful, courteous and professional. I can't help you as regards a berth except to say if I was a local, and some Johnny Come Lately rocked up and occupied a scarce berth needed by locals, I'd be fairly pissed off.

 

[billskip]

Agia Marina" in th east. The latter seems to be a private Marina, probably more expensive. But I couldn't find out the pricing anywhere. I only find that hotel there.

Agia Marina is a place name, unless there is a new built marina there, there isn't an actual marina there.
There use to be two shipyards on the north coast of Aegina.
The flying Dolphins run at about 4 times a day from Athens I thought.
You cant Just stick a Greek flag on the blunt end, you will have to officially import the boat and register it.
Anyways good luck with your plans.

 

[DangerousPirate]

A lot of EU money went into building Greek harbours. Most of them seemed to fill up with small fishing motor boats. You could stand at the edge and look down to see how much depth they had - plenty for cruising boats. I think the idea was to get money into the local economies, but without harbour masters the purpose was never met. We also came across some totally empty marinas which were never completed:

View attachment 207378

The "Harbour Sigri" on Lesbos? I just quickly googled it, and judging by the google maps entry and reviews, I assume it's operating. There are 5 month reviews.

I wouldn't be too hasty in taking up some of the bot like advice you get on here, if I were you. Sometimes life is a lot easier in a foreign country if you're obviously foreign, don't speak the language, and you're not subject to all the local regulations. I've been living in Türkiye for over 20 years, and even though I speak Turkish reasonably well, I always speak English to Coast Guard officers when stopped on my boat, and police when stopped driving. 95% of the time they can't be arsed trying to speak to me in English, and wave me on. I also find it much easier to keep up to date and in line with the local regulations for my foreign flagged boat rather than trying to keep within the regulations that apply to local boats. I take my boat to Greece regularly and find the regulations for foreign flagged boats straightforward and easy to follow. The best advice i can give based on my experience is to talk to as many local residents as you can, both native and ex pat, and learn the lie of the land. You could get yourself in trouble offering a fifty to the wrong guy.
I should say also, that in my many dealings with Greek Customs and Coast Guard I've always found them helpful, courteous and professional. I can't help you as regards a berth except to say if I was a local, and some Johnny Come Lately rocked up and occupied a scarce berth needed by locals, I'd be fairly pissed off.

Yes, I get that. I wouldn't want to do that unless that's how you're supposed to do it. Hence why i am asking here Also I am sure the resident spots are marked somehow or they tell you right away when you're docking.

Agia Marina is a place name, unless there is a new built marina there, there isn't an actual marina there.
There use to be two shipyards on the north coast of Aegina.
The flying Dolphins run at about 4 times a day from Athens I thought.
You cant Just stick a Greek flag on the blunt end, you will have to officially import the boat and register it.
Anyways good luck with your plans.

Oh? I remember from a few years ago that a friend went there. But maybe it was just an anchorage. Looking at cmap right now, it sort of looks like there are facilities. But whatever that is, could be anything really. You're probably right, which would explain why I only found the hotel.



Either way, when I say "stick the greek flag on the transom" of course I meant I'd register it properly. The point was that I wouldn't try to get a permanent spot as a british registered boat in greece. That obviously would not work and I have already thought of that part.

We'll see. Once I am down there for the house, I can have a proper look around.

 

[billskip]

Looking at cmap right now, it sort of looks like there are facilities. But whatever that is, could be anything

Well I anchored in that bay many times and the pier/jetty was used for the ferry to Athens. Looks like it's been extended.
Agia Marina is the name of the town/village place.

 

[billskip]

Do a search for Mr cassandra, but he may not be a member here now.
He last posted in '24

 

[dgadee]

Sigri harbour does seem to be open now. But not sure it's a good idea. There can be strong winds in the Aegean.

 

[Davy_S]

The most important phrase to use is, ena kilo kokino krasi parakalor

 

[ylop]

These points from Irish Rover seem very pertinent

You could get yourself in trouble offering a fifty to the wrong guy.

I can't help you as regards a berth except to say if I was a local, and some Johnny Come Lately rocked up and occupied a scarce berth needed by locals, I'd be fairly pissed off.

which is why you need to find a way to get to know the locals and how these things actually work, and why the ability to understand/speak Greek would be a massive advantage (even if as Irish says, sometimes it may be useful to by the dumb foreigner).

Either way, when I say "stick the greek flag on the transom" of course I meant I'd register it properly. The point was that I wouldn't try to get a permanent spot as a british registered boat in greece. That obviously would not work and I have already thought of that part.

Have you looked at what that actually involves? Likely that VAT will apply. You may have some interesting discussions about RCD/CE marking.

 

[DangerousPirate]

These points from Irish Rover seem very pertinent


which is why you need to find a way to get to know the locals and how these things actually work, and why the ability to understand/speak Greek would be a massive advantage (even if as Irish says, sometimes it may be useful to by the dumb foreigner).

Have you looked at what that actually involves? Likely that VAT will apply. You may have some interesting discussions about RCD/CE marking.

He raises good points, yes. Never disregarded anything he said. I just can't speak much greek, I spoke a little when I lived there but I worked in an international company in athens, I didn't get too much practice.

My goal here is to just put the question out and find someone how has more experience?

But I did look into the boat registration and everything it involves. That's not a problem.

 

[dunedin]

…….

Have you looked at what that actually involves? Likely that VAT will apply. You may have some interesting discussions about RCD/CE marking.

That depends on where the boat has been in recent years and VAT status, rather than flag. If the boat has been in Greece and/or the Med for years this should not (at least in theory) be an issue - though there are many reports of individual Greek officials interpreting the VAT status rules wrongly (assuming UK flagged boats cannot have EU VAT status).

Worth understanding any rules on skipper qualifications for Greek flagged vessels (I have no idea if this is an issue, but is with some EU flags.)

 

[Tranona]

But I did look into the boat registration and everything it involves. That's not a problem.

Registration per se is not really the issue. Your boat needs to be EU VAT paid for permanent use in Greece. It does not matter where it is registered. If it is not EU VAT paid then the stay is limited to 18 months (renewable) but only if it is owned by a non EU resident and registered outside the EU.

So from what you have said unless you have proof that your boat has EU VAT paid status it is not practical to take it to Greece without at least paying VAT at the first state of entry into the EU, or if arranged in advance, on arrival in Greece. If you are able to import it into the EU there is no need to register it in Greece if it is on the UK Part 1 register when you become resident there. If it is on Part 3 (SSR) you will need to re register in Greece.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Registration per se is not really the issue. Your boat needs to be EU VAT paid for permanent use in Greece. It does not matter where it is registered. If it is not EU VAT paid then the stay is limited to 18 months (renewable) but only if it is owned by a non EU resident and registered outside the EU.

So from what you have said unless you have proof that your boat has EU VAT paid status it is not practical to take it to Greece without at least paying VAT at the first state of entry into the EU, or if arranged in advance, on arrival in Greece. If you are able to import it into the EU there is no need to register it in Greece if it is on the UK Part 1 register when you become resident there. If it is on Part 3 (SSR) you will need to re register in Greece.

I understand, and I don't want the thread to derail into yet another uk vat discussion. I know what i am doing on that part.

 

[kingsebi]

Well I anchored in that bay many times and the pier/jetty was used for the ferry to Athens. Looks like it's been extended.
Agia Marina is the name of the town/village place.

Some small local fishing boats moored there when I passed by three years ago.

 

[ylop]

That depends on where the boat has been in recent years and VAT status, rather than flag. If the boat has been in Greece and/or the Med for years this should not (at least in theory) be an issue - though there are many reports of individual Greek officials interpreting the VAT status rules wrongly (assuming UK flagged boats cannot have EU VAT status).

Ah good point - the OP has a slightly odd turn of phrase and I did interpret it as being British flagged because it was in the UK and that's not actually what he said.

 

[westernman]

I would never offer cash to an official. A bottle of something, some chocolates or a couple of small cakes from a patisserie, yes, but not cash.
Cash is bribery. The others are just being a good chap and being friendly. Do not cross that line.

 

[billskip]

I will get a greek flag on the transom. Currently it's british, because I am in the UK and have been for a number of years, but once I go over there, the boat won't be under british flag. I'll arrive with the greek flag

I did interpret it as being British flagged because it was in the UK and that's not actually what he said.

 

[dunedin]

Many UK residents have kept boats in the Mediterranean for years / decades - especially those inclined to want to move there longer term.
Also, if changing residence this can give ways to import a boat without VAT and RCD issues as part of transfer of residence.
But multiple ambiguities in the information hence need to be careful making assumptions.
As ever, can often be better selling existing boat in UK and buying in Greece, as often better equipped / suited to the warm waters.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Many UK residents have kept boats in the Mediterranean for years / decades - especially those inclined to want to move there longer term.

Yeah, and I wonder how they do that. Perhaps they are loaded and just go to Flisvos I wish. But even so, I'd rather have the boat on the island and Aegina doesn't have a big, spendy marina even if I were so inclined to pay for it.

At the end of the day, I started this thread just to find out if "We have 11 years+ waiting lists" truly means "Don't even bother" or if that's just the official statement but not necessarily uncircumventable.

 

[Bouba]

I can’t speak for Greece…but we do have some municipal ports here in France…and when you first arrive you hear it’s five years…truth is that it might be more than twenty. People live long here…the bloody Mediterranean diet…and you have to keep an eye on the list because you can fall off it…you will change boats before you get offered a place…and if your boat is now bigger for example…you start again at the beginning of another list (it actually happened to me)
Being local doesn’t help…it should but it doesn’t….and even if a place does come become available in the port, they might think, let’s use it as a visitor mooring. And I don’t know how the boat hire companies seem to grow and grow….

 

[vyv_cox]

I wish. But even so, I'd rather have the boat on the island and Aegina doesn't have a big, spendy marina even if I were so inclined to pay for it.

There is a commercial marina on Aegina but I doubt that berths come up very often. Our friend Hlias (Ilias) has a boat there. You may be able to find him as he is well known. He would be a good man to advise.