insurance for the danube and black sea?

[syscode]

Looking for a 3rd party liability only insurance to cover a small (21ft) sailing boat going through the danube and into the black sea.

Yet to find someone that insures for the black sea. (they have the war in mind..)
Looking at a uk based insurers, am i looking at the wrong direction?
Any clues?

Cheers!

 

[syscode]

no one has any clue?
how about an insurance for the Danube?
Cheers!

 

[wonkywinch]

EIS-Insurance | Yacht- und Bootsversicherungen online

HAMBURGER YACHTVERSICHERUNG SCHOMACKER BOOTSVERSICHERUNGEN

I've used both (never had to claim though)

 

[LittleSister]

Regardless of whether you can get insurance, I think being in the northern or central Black Sea, including anywhere near the mouth of the Danube, would be most unwise for the foreseeable future. It's not just a matter of the risk of being caught in 'crossfire', but your very presence will be highly suspicious to a whole range of very nervous and heavily armed parties.

The Danube to the Black Sea is a journey I'd love to do, but now is not the time to do it.

If you do persist in your plan, be aware that permissions, for both the boat and the persons aboard, to transit on the Danube the many countries it passes can be complex. The criteria and administrative arrangements for each country is (or was until relatively recently) different, and often very difficult to find out.

There was a webpage a few years ago (by a German couple?) that attempted to set out the criteria for each country for leisure boats of various sizes (not crew), but had various gaps where they'd been defeated in their attempt to find out, or received conflicting 'official' information about the same country. I have a vague recollection that what information was available led me to think there would make it challenging to for my then 23 footer comply with the requirements for every country. (Do I recall there were minimum power or speed requirements for some countries?) I'd be grateful to hear about any source of more up to date or comprehensive information on such matters.

I can recommend reading, if you haven't already done so, 'The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow' by A.J.McKinnon, a real hoot about him rowing and sailing a Mirror dinghy from England to the Black Sea via the Danube.

I doubt he, nor the young chap who did it by kayak (on YouTube video), complied with all the formal requirements, but I think the authorities find it easier to forgive or turn a blind eye to a personable eccentric in such a small boat than they would to someone in a yacht.

 

[srm]

I would be inclines to look for Europe based insurance brokers who specialise in their inland waterways, though @Refueler has reported in another thread that its becoming difficulty for Brits to obtain cover from EU insurers.

I remember reading two articles about a Rhine/Danube passage in a smallish motor boat purchased especially for the trip. They took two seasons to complete it. This was probably in PBO in the 90's but could have been YM. May be of background interest if you can find a copy.

 

[Neeves]

Think outside the box.

Google boat (yacht) insurance for Georgia. Georgia, as you will know has is a Black Sea country, or borders the Black Sea. You will find some hits - but they might be restrictive, only Georgian residents or only Georgian registered yachts. You similarly might find, for example, Turkish insurers who cover the Black Sea.

I believe that Georgia, as a country, does not require you to insure your vessel but marinas might have a different view - do you intend to use marinas, are there many marinas on the Black Sea?

As mentioned I can think of a better time to explore the Black Sea (not that you will be able to access all the Black Sea anyway) - or do you simply want to have been on the Black Sea and then return. Surely one of the most interesting parts would be the Crimean Peninsular, Sebastopol and some of the navigable rivers - and I really don't think you will even get within eyesight.

Be patient - when the war is over countries will be desperate for visitors.

Jonathan

 

[DownWest]

Chap I know was going to do the Danube and bought a folding kayak for the trip, thinking of several stages. Dunno if he did it, as not heard from him for a bit. Expect a kayak would not need the permissions a yacht would. Apparently there are camp sites alon,g the way and sluice bypasses for the locks.

One comment was that industrial strength insect repellant would be needed on the lower stretches.

 

[syscode]

EIS-Insurance | Yacht- und Bootsversicherungen online

HAMBURGER YACHTVERSICHERUNG SCHOMACKER BOOTSVERSICHERUNGEN

I've used both (never had to claim though)

Thanks!
Tried EIS - no joy.
Cheers for the 2nd lot - will give them a go.

 

[wonkywinch]

Thanks!
Tried EIS - no joy.
Cheers for the 2nd lot - will give them a go.

I always used EIS for charter deposit cover but they won't insure UK residents for that now, Schomacker would however so I used them this year for cover for a charter in the Whitsundays.

 

[syscode]

Regardless of whether you can get insurance, I think being in the northern or central Black Sea, including anywhere near the mouth of the Danube, would be most unwise for the foreseeable future. It's not just a matter of the risk of being caught in 'crossfire', but your very presence will be highly suspicious to a whole range of very nervous and heavily armed parties.

The Danube to the Black Sea is a journey I'd love to do, but now is not the time to do it.

If you do persist in your plan, be aware that permissions, for both the boat and the persons aboard, to transit on the Danube the many countries it passes can be complex. The criteria and administrative arrangements for each country is (or was until relatively recently) different, and often very difficult to find out.

There was a webpage a few years ago (by a German couple?) that attempted to set out the criteria for each country for leisure boats of various sizes (not crew), but had various gaps where they'd been defeated in their attempt to find out, or received conflicting 'official' information about the same country. I have a vague recollection that what information was available led me to think there would make it challenging to for my then 23 footer comply with the requirements for every country. (Do I recall there were minimum power or speed requirements for some countries?) I'd be grateful to hear about any source of more up to date or comprehensive information on such matters.

I can recommend reading, if you haven't already done so, 'The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow' by A.J.McKinnon, a real hoot about him rowing and sailing a Mirror dinghy from England to the Black Sea via the Danube.

I doubt he, nor the young chap who did it by kayak (on YouTube video), complied with all the formal requirements, but I think the authorities find it easier to forgive or turn a blind eye to a personable eccentric in such a small boat than they would to someone in a yacht.

thanks for the thoughtful message.

As far as I know, local people in northern romania, even odessa, do sail in that area of the black sea.
In case I am wrong, will not go there.
---
Not entirely clear about different countries requirements.
From what I picked up, there were differences in terms of boat displacements, size, and engine power. Since all the variations had nothing even nearer to my boat, I didn't bother about the intricacies.

---

Perhaps, in case you are interested in the differences, chatgpt or google's gemini could come useful imho.
(make sure to ask for links and quotes when they give information, because they will hallucinate some.)

 

[syscode]

Think outside the box.

Google boat (yacht) insurance for Georgia. Georgia, as you will know has is a Black Sea country, or borders the Black Sea. You will find some hits - but they might be restrictive, only Georgian residents or only Georgian registered yachts. You similarly might find, for example, Turkish insurers who cover the Black Sea.

I believe that Georgia, as a country, does not require you to insure your vessel but marinas might have a different view - do you intend to use marinas, are there many marinas on the Black Sea?

As mentioned I can think of a better time to explore the Black Sea (not that you will be able to access all the Black Sea anyway) - or do you simply want to have been on the Black Sea and then return. Surely one of the most interesting parts would be the Crimean Peninsular, Sebastopol and some of the navigable rivers - and I really don't think you will even get within eyesight.

Be patient - when the war is over countries will be desperate for visitors.

Jonathan

That's an idea.
Will give it ago if all else fails
Perhaps i should think bonkers out of the box and look for ukrainian marine insurance? they must have some..
Cheers and thanks!

 

[syscode]

Also, there's someone on FB that goes with a tiki21 down the danube. They say they have no insurance. (I think they got slightly unset I asked since they replied hat they don't have and rather not think about it too..)

 

[DownWest]

I got a decent quote for a small self built cruiser here in France, third party only. Very friendly discussion.
Here:Assurance Yacht et bateau | Pantaenius Monaco

Reply was all in English too. Me; UK national, resident in France.