Messolonghi... Here we go again!

[Palarran]

I'm sorry to hear about this problem you are having at the marina. IMO though, something needed to be done about the condition of the place. Not this extreme but there is junk sitting around there that has been sitting for many years and it needs to be cleaned up.

I liked Messolonghi. Palarran spent 3 winters there, and I spent about a total of 15 days during those three seasons. It has it's problems and I'm not interested in returning, but if we go through the canal again I'll stop by and see the boys at the Sunset bar and Mata. Good luck with getting your issues resolved.

 

[JanZ]

We have been here at Messolonghi for three winters. The town and people are wonderful and the marina, whilst it has its rough edges, has always been to us an extremely vibrant and friendly place to be. We absolutely love it here.

Sure, there's a bit of jetsam here and there in odd places but the staff, marineros, and the people involved in the shop, bar, and chandlery, all of whom have invested their own time and money, and whose futures are tied up with the marina's, are and have been without exception pleasant, happy, and helpful.

However, the current situation, confirmed this evening by the Mayor, that the PP are correct in enforcing the "no work whatsoever to be carried out on your boat" rule, is clearly completely untenable. We have today booked to overwinter elsewhere this season; we don't want to, its not so convenient for us, but we can see no alternative. It is absolutely essential to be able to maintain and service your boat.

Whoever is causing the problems is clearly set on destroying the marina, and the livelihoods of dozens of people directly and scores of people indirectly. The marina generates hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of euros for the local economy; tavernas, supermarkets, chandleries, taxi companies, restaurants and local craftsmen will all be severely affected when the vast majority of current marina incumbents leave, as clearly they must.

We are desperately sad that the situation has come to this. We would love to return here when and if the problems are resolved, but for us, for the moment, it is "Goodbye Messolonghi"

 

[jordanbasset]

So sad, we also really liked the town, are the tradesmen, restaurants, bars etc not putting pressure on the Mayor to sort it out, it seems a suicidal policy for the economy of the town.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Thanks Vic,
Your comments are outdated and irrelevant and unless you have a crystal ball speculative at best.
Let people who are here now speak for Messolonghi an let's please focus on the here and now.

Hi My comments may be for three years ago but out dated they are not ,for tho of us who know of Messolondhi history a crystal ball isn't needed ,
it was foretold over a year ago a plan was hatch to stop all work being done at Messolonghi and people was warned about it and needed to take it into consideration,
Anyone thinking of going to winter out there with the intention of working on their boat needed to think carefully .
I not surprise what the Mayor have said ,
I not sure what you expected .
I echo other comments , Messilonghi is a great town with lovely people and has as full time Liveaboard we would use it again BUT only if Yannis was well and truly gone . ( Don't let his smile fool you )
Although most of the town hate Yannis with a passion , he has big clot with people who matter , it took a court case serval years before Joe got him out .
Off cause I maybe wrong and Yannis isn't behind this . ( oh there goes another flying pig )
I hope everyone manage to get launch and leave without too much problem .

 

[xSeadeucedx]

Okay, this is my final instalment unless we get a big change soon.
The marina does not have a licence to operate as a marina which, means no work can be carried out by the marina, contractors or ourselves.
If we violate the terms of the Licence we can be fined and this has been done to several clients of the marina.
The Licence is not a licence to protect the lagoon it is purely a licence to operate.
It may be worth noting that several other marinas do not hold this licence, for instance Lefkas, which, is maybe why last year they made it clear that owners were not allowed to work on boats.
Having spoken with the mayor he seems optomistic that the licence will arrive within 20 days however, this is pure optimism. It is more likely to take months and could actually be another 2 years although this seems unlikely.
He also stated that he would try on Monday to get a legal paper from the Port authority to allow purely engineering work to be carried but, we will have to wait and see.
In the mean time look outs are posted and we run the gauntlet of being prosecuted should we be caught.
At best, at the moment you could only call the marian a boat park because that's all we can legally do with them.
Should you need any further information I would certainly speak with the office to clarify the situation before booking a place here.
There is still a chance that this could all change soon and if it does I for one will be releived and would not hesitate to return.
If I receive any further information I will post a new thread.
Thanks for those of you who showed support

 

[Carmel2]

Good luck, I hope it can all get resolved.

 

[Ravi]

Its sound like a bit of a nightmare. I really like Messolongi and wanted to keep the boat there until SWMBO vetoed the idea. it sounds like a lucky escape.
If there are safety issues and vessels are, effectively, being detained, could the British High Commission / Embassy do something?

 

[rigman]

Okay, this is my final instalment unless we get a big change soon.
The marina does not have a licence to operate as a marina which, means no work can be carried out by the marina, contractors or ourselves.
If we violate the terms of the Licence we can be fined and this has been done to several clients of the marina.
The Licence is not a licence to protect the lagoon it is purely a licence to operate.
It may be worth noting that several other marinas do not hold this licence, for instance Lefkas, which, is maybe why last year they made it clear that owners were not allowed to work on boats.
Having spoken with the mayor he seems optomistic that the licence will arrive within 20 days however, this is pure optimism. It is more likely to take months and could actually be another 2 years although this seems unlikely.
He also stated that he would try on Monday to get a legal paper from the Port authority to allow purely engineering work to be carried but, we will have to wait and see.
In the mean time look outs are posted and we run the gauntlet of being prosecuted should we be caught.
At best, at the moment you could only call the marian a boat park because that's all we can legally do with them.
Should you need any further information I would certainly speak with the office to clarify the situation before booking a place here.
There is still a chance that this could all change soon and if it does I for one will be releived and would not hesitate to return.
If I receive any further information I will post a new thread.
Thanks for those of you who showed support

Where did you get this info about owners not allowed to work on their boats in Lefkas. We are there and there are many people working on their own boats. Anti fouling etc.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Where did you get this info about owners not allowed to work on their boats in Lefkas. We are there and there are many people working on their own boats. Anti fouling etc.

We was there last year and we also worked on our boat , so did many others , and so did all the charter company including Sunsail who now has a base there .

 

[Chris_Robb]

Okay, this is my final instalment unless we get a big change soon.
The marina does not have a licence to operate as a marina which, means no work can be carried out by the marina, contractors or ourselves.
If we violate the terms of the Licence we can be fined and this has been done to several clients of the marina.
The Licence is not a licence to protect the lagoon it is purely a licence to operate.
It may be worth noting that several other marinas do not hold this licence, for instance Lefkas, which, is maybe why last year they made it clear that owners were not allowed to work on boats.
Having spoken with the mayor he seems optomistic that the licence will arrive within 20 days however, this is pure optimism. It is more likely to take months and could actually be another 2 years although this seems unlikely.
He also stated that he would try on Monday to get a legal paper from the Port authority to allow purely engineering work to be carried but, we will have to wait and see.
In the mean time look outs are posted and we run the gauntlet of being prosecuted should we be caught.
At best, at the moment you could only call the marian a boat park because that's all we can legally do with them.
Should you need any further information I would certainly speak with the office to clarify the situation before booking a place here.
There is still a chance that this could all change soon and if it does I for one will be releived and would not hesitate to return.
If I receive any further information I will post a new thread.
Thanks for those of you who showed support

The lack of an operating licence has always been an issue at the Marina. It didn't seem to matter. Back in 2010 this was still and issue then. But it never got in the way of working on the boats - that was normally Yannie's department.

I have put forward a precise of this issue to the Ministry of Shipping - I have a contact there and she has forwarded it to (hopefully) the right place. I may need further info in the form of an Affidavit - it worked last year when there were problems in Porto heli. I will PM you my email address.

 

[xSeadeucedx]

just thought I'd pop back in.

Apologies regarding Lefkas. It was something I had been informed about by a friend who had stayed there two years ago.
Not current information.
I have made enquiries with them and this was the reply to my email regarding owners being allowed to wash polish and anti foul themselves.

Dear Sir,

You may carry out the works mentioned on your email at your own yacht. Please find attached our Lifting Form & Rules (which includes Rules of operation) for the yachts on dry dock. You are kindly requested to clarify the data of your boat and the period you want to stay ashore in order to check for availability.

I hope this clarifies any confusion which was obviously on my part.

Thanks to Chris Robb who, I'm now in contact with and hopefully we will see some results from that.
So that's is.
Speak again when Messolonghi is florishing!

 

[macd]

I may need further info in the form of an Affidavit - it worked last year when there were problems in Porto heli.

I remember the thread about the Porto Heli problems, Chris. Wasn't it some staggeringly ignorant officials demanding proof of the new cruising tax having been paid? Delighted to learn it was resolved, but that's the first I've heard of it. Care to fill us in?

For anyone interested, that thread, which has no bearing at all on the Messolonghi issues, is here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-430182.html

 

[Chris_Robb]

I remember the thread about the Porto Heli problems, Chris. Wasn't it some staggeringly ignorant officials demanding proof of the new cruising tax having been paid? Delighted to learn it was resolved, but that's the first I've heard of it. Care to fill us in?

For anyone interested, that thread, which has no bearing at all on the Messolonghi issues, is here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-430182.html

The port police in pireus acted very promptly and clarified the situation. Official explanation was that there was a language problem. Well ok. Correct result ?

 

[Sunandsea]

What is the result here? Is the Messolonghi Marina issue resolved? Heading back to Messolonghi to prepare our boat for this season prior to launch but worried about potential fines.

 

[JanZ]

No not yet. Port police still patrolling, marineros still advising "stop working polis coming"

 

[xSeadeucedx]

Hi all,

Instead of starting a new thread I thought I'd add to this one as an update on the situation here in Messolonghi.
Today we had a meeting with the CEO Mr Jo Mennen regarding the situation we find ourselves in and the constant harrassment by the Port Police.

It would appear that, as the Marina has no licence, no work can be carried out within the area of the marina. Also it is illegal for the fishermen, outside the gate to work on their boats.

The only difference is, is that no one is phoning the Port Police continually complaining about them doing this, unlike us in the marina.

Without any evidence it is impossible to say who is making all the complaints but, there are suspicions. However,
without legal proof it would be irresponsible to name names, leaving yourself wide open to counter allegations.

It is enough to say that in the meantime we all have to work around the situation here at the moment.

Mr Mennen informed us today that the licence has been applied for and it is now just a waiting game until it is issued which, it is hoped, will be in about 6 months. However, it could be a year or more. It depends on how fast the Greek beaurecracy works.
It does seem more than likely though that this licence will eventually be issued.

When there is an update on the licence situation the marina was asked to let all clients know and this was agreed.

This may not be enough of a guarantee for some people to return for next season but, the offer by the marina is that. Should the licence not be issued in time for owners to do the neccessary work on their boats, the marina will not charge the last 30% of the berthing fee if you have beed lifted out of the water. This would enable owners to have their boats launched and take their boats elswhere for work to be carried out.
Should you want any clarification on the terms and conditions it would be best to speak to the marina direct.

From what we heard today it would seem to us that, the benefits of being in such a lovely place as Messolonghi out weigh the negativities of the political situation here.
Also with the option of being able to keep our boat in what is usually a safe environment, friendly people and a good social atmosphere and also having the opportunity to go elsewhere to have worked carried out, if the licence is not issued, before the end of the season is enough for us to book a place for the winter.

I know not everyone will agree but, as always if you do not like the situation you find yourself in you can vote with your feet and move on.

Just as an aside here is the reply I received from the British Embassy. I'm sure you will all agree, most helpful. Just never have a problem outside the UK and expect them to intervene!


Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry to learn of the situation regarding the Messolonghi marina and the problems you are facing.

Unfortunately Consular staff are not legally trained and there is no Legal Section in this Embassy; therefore we are unable to advise you as to the best way to tackle this situation.

I would therefore advise you to seek the appropriate legal advice. Please follow the link below to open our list of English-speaking lawyers for your perusal; please note the disclaimer.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greece-list-of-lawyers

Yours sincerely,

Consular Section

Consular Section| British Embassy | Ploutarchou 1| 106 75 Athens| Greece
Email: Consular.Athens@fco.gov.uk | Tel: +30 210 727 2600 | Fax: +30 210 727 2720 |Help for British nationals

Notarial and Documentary services at the British Embassy in Athens are by appointment only.

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[macd]

I'm sure I remember a page on the MCA website with bullet points about why Part 1 was such a good thing. One of them was "guaranteed consular assistance". It mysteriously (or not) disappeared about 10 years ago. I wonder why?

Glad to hear there's progress, albeit slow, Seadeuced. Good luck to all in the marina.

 

[BrianH]

I'm sure I remember a page on the MCA website with bullet points about why Part 1 was such a good thing. One of them was "guaranteed consular assistance". It mysteriously (or not) disappeared about 10 years ago. I wonder why?

The same reason the British Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, no longer offers consular services to British nationals needing regular confirmation for UK pensions that they are still alive - to penny-pinch and save money.

When I phoned, as I always do to make an appointment to witness my signing the official pensions form, I was ages on hold before a clueless young lady answered (an unpaid intern perhaps?) and who kept me waiting ages while she ran around asking other staff, then breathlessly told me that I should 'go to a local lawyer and be sure they have a stamp to make it official'.

One of the largest and certainly most pompous embassy in town (and a modern concrete eyesore among all the gracious but smaller, other embassy buildings of other nationalities) - discounting the USA of course - with the least services ... that is, no consular services whatsoever.

 

[Tranona]

One of the largest and certainly most pompous embassy in town (and a modern concrete eyesore among all the gracious but smaller, other embassy buildings of other nationalities) - discounting the USA of course - with the least services ... that is, no consular services whatsoever.

Expect that will all change if the Leavers win and we become foreigners in Europe again!

 

[BrianH]

Expect that will all change if the Leavers win and we become foreigners in Europe again!

:encouragement:
However, don't forget we have always been foreigners in non-EU Switzerland, so not much will change there.