New tax for foreign yachts based in Greece from 1st January 2014????

[vyv_cox]

I, like many, take the view that the PP are in fact a job creation scheme, not a revenue raising set up. The charges they are meant to collect are such that a single person can collect by walking along the quayside with a receipt book, as happens in Gaios for example. It doesn't need an over staffed office full of people who can't be bothered to take a hike down the quay to enforce the charge. If they don't ask they won't get.

Last summer we berthed in a tiny fishing port in the westernmost inland sea on Lesvos. There appears to be no ferry activity there, very little commercial fishing other than in small boats, possibly the occasional small freighter but none during the four days we were there. We counted at least five port policemen/women at the office, quite possibly more if they had 24 hour coverage.

 

[grafozz]

Whilst in another small Aegean island , last June ,we witnessed the real purpose of the PP .
They seem to be there to harass the local fishermen !

We spent perhaps 45 mins doing our paperwork and during this time 4 different fishermen came in presenting documents
which we discovered from the very kind and helpful PP , were all about compliance with the huge amount of regulations they are subjected to .
We felt like guests of honour by comparison !

I know some of the local fishermen and they have told me some of the rules and fines
they have to deal with which would make the average yachtsman,s eyes water

e.g. a 300 e fine for having flares with less than 3 months life left !

 

[rivonia]

Whilst in another small Aegean island , last June ,we witnessed the real purpose of the PP .
They seem to be there to harass the local fishermen !

We spent perhaps 45 mins doing our paperwork and during this time 4 different fishermen came in presenting documents
which we discovered from the very kind and helpful PP , were all about compliance with the huge amount of regulations they are subjected to .
We felt like guests of honour by comparison !

I know some of the local fishermen and they have told me some of the rules and fines
they have to deal with which would make the average yachtsman,s eyes water

e.g. a 300 e fine for having flares with less than 3 months life left !

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[Bertramdriver]

Just logged onto the thread and caught up. I get the sense we're all filling time until we get hard news re the tax. Trouble is I suspect the news will dribble out in dribs, drabs and general scuttlebutt. Irritating as we want to make cruising plans from April.

 

[charles_reed]

The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled - public debt should be reduced - the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled - and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed: lest Rome will become bankrupt."

People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance."

- Cicero , 55 BC

................ So, evidently, we've learnt bugger all over the past 2,068 years.

Yes, he finally had his throat cut - on the road from his holiday villa near Gaeta.

 

[Chris_Robb]

My emails to the office of the Shipping Ministry go unanswered, 3 chasers now - perhaps I am designated SPAM.

anyone want to place a bet on a reply? Odds at moment 100 to 1

 

[Glyka]

My emails to the office of the Shipping Ministry go unanswered, 3 chasers now - perhaps I am designated SPAM.

anyone want to place a bet on a reply? Odds at moment 100 to 1

Very optimistic.

Another thing.
PP stands for Port Police. They are an armed force and their main duty is to police and not to collect fees, except for fines. Having the responsability to collect fees is something they don't like at all. Imagine if the police were collecting community fees etc. They already have 4% of the world's coastline to police with all the smuggling, trafficking, illegal fishing, etc. Their efficiency may (just may) be questionable but, that's their job. No wonder they make a fee collecting promenade whenever they feel like it. Please always remember: Port Police.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Very optimistic.

Another thing.
PP stands for Port Police. They are an armed force and their main duty is to police and not to collect fees, except for fines. Having the responsability to collect fees is something they don't like at all. Imagine if the police were collecting community fees etc. They already have 4% of the world's coastline to police with all the smuggling, trafficking, illegal fishing, etc. Their efficiency may (just may) be questionable but, that's their job. No wonder they make a fee collecting promenade whenever they feel like it. Please always remember: Port Police.

So what do the Hellenic Coast guard do? They have a mean looking machine in Leros with a big calibre machine gun on the bows. I am not so sure that the Port Police have any responsibilities outside the Port. However I am ready to be corrected.

 

[JumbleDuck]

They already have 4% of the world's coastline to police with all the smuggling, trafficking, illegal fishing, etc.

According to Wikipedia, the Greek coastline is 15,147 km, which is 0.96% of the world total (1,634,701 km).

 

[pelissima]

So what do the Hellenic Coast guard do? They have a mean looking machine in Leros with a big calibre machine gun on the bows. I am not so sure that the Port Police have any responsibilities outside the Port. However I am ready to be corrected.

Unable to answer this myself I –what else- googled, only to land on their site (hcg.gr) and realized that PP changed their name in 2011 to Port Police – Hellenic Cost Guard. Vast area of responsibilities for them including patrolling for drugs and trafficking hence the heavy gun.

 

[Artic Warrior]

Just logged onto the thread and caught up. I get the sense we're all filling time until we get hard news re the tax. Trouble is I suspect the news will dribble out in dribs, drabs and general scuttlebutt. Irritating as we want to make cruising plans from April.

Chill, just pay it and get on with your life young man......

 

[akyaka]

According to Wikipedia, the Greek coastline is 15,147 km, which is 0.96% of the world total (1,634,701 km).

Some 4,500 km less than than the UK based on the same method of measurement

 

[pelissima]

Just a thought. Are Turkish war ships performing innocent passages around Kea, Andros etc. liable to the new tax?

 

[Artic Warrior]

Just a thought. Are Turkish war ships performing innocent passages around Kea, Andros etc. liable to the new tax?

Well yes, but less 50 % maybe, or do they get more reduction

 

[Bertramdriver]

Chill, just pay it and get on with your life young man......

Totally thrilled. I haven't been called a young man for nearly 60 years!

 

[Artic Warrior]

Totally thrilled. I haven't been called a young man for nearly 60 years!

Well not much we can do about the tax ,,and its zapping about 10 % of my yearly budget,,,but I still want to sail in Greece,,,,

 

[Glyka]

According to Wikipedia, the Greek coastline is 15,147 km, which is 0.96% of the world total (1,634,701 km).

According to the CIA World Factbook the world's coastline is 356,000 km. Not that it makes any difference. 15,000 km of coastline are enough (Switzerland is not one of the neighbour countries).
Port Police and Coast Guard are one and the same.

 

[Bertramdriver]

The Coast Guard /PP is staffed by conscripts. Is this right?

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Well not much we can do about the tax ,,and its zapping about 10 % of my yearly budget,,,but I still want to sail in Greece,,,,

So will we, possibly but i don't intend to accept it in anything like good grace!

 

[rotrax]

So will we, possibly but i don't intend to accept it in anything like good grace!

Yup-you have made that fact very clear..................................