Bluesbreaker
Active Member
What is the current permit requirement for a British flagged sailing vessel to enter/cruise & exit their waters.
SAILING IN GREECE.
- Thread starter Bluesbreaker
- Start date
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Just a cruising log called a DEKRA. All EU yachts including Greek need it. Get it at your first port of entry. In theory needs to be stamped at every port you visit, but in practice very relaxed. You will need SSR/Part 1, Bill of Sale, Insurance with Greek translation (provided free by insurer if you ask) and an ICC - not "officially" recognised by saves hassle. No other restrictions or constraints.
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
If you search this thread, you will find a different presentation of the rules on these websites:
Greek Government Port Procedures
JimB Greek Port Procedures
Noonsite
Very different views, but all are valid at different times on different islands. That is the challenge of Greece; great cruising but a bureaucracy that can be a serious pain... Very unclear rules with random application.
My advice would be to try to adhere to the 'official' regulation as expressed on the first link here. That is the safe one. I have myself got into trouble by not being in strict compliance of collecting all the blue stamps when meeting the 'Port Police from hell'. But I think JimB is expressing the view of how most people 'actually' are sailing around Greece. Avoid the nonsense but be aware of what you are avoiding; therefore be prepared to deal with it when it shows its ugly face.
Greek Government Port Procedures
JimB Greek Port Procedures
Noonsite
Very different views, but all are valid at different times on different islands. That is the challenge of Greece; great cruising but a bureaucracy that can be a serious pain... Very unclear rules with random application.
My advice would be to try to adhere to the 'official' regulation as expressed on the first link here. That is the safe one. I have myself got into trouble by not being in strict compliance of collecting all the blue stamps when meeting the 'Port Police from hell'. But I think JimB is expressing the view of how most people 'actually' are sailing around Greece. Avoid the nonsense but be aware of what you are avoiding; therefore be prepared to deal with it when it shows its ugly face.
mocruising
Well-Known Member
Been in Greece since Oct. 2006. Picked up the paper on arrival. Since then have left and returned twice. I have three stamps on the paper, never bother when I go local cruising to get it stamped, and never had a problem or been questioned. I have a good friend who has been in Greek waters for seven years now and he has about 6 stamps, they don't seem to bother much these days.
I am sure some will have other opinions.
I am sure some will have other opinions.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
No, my opinion is the same as yours. I know one man who has kept his boat in Greece for many years. When I last spoke to him it was 16 months since his last stamp.
On several occasions when I have asked for mine to be stamped it was more than two months since the last. Nobody said a word, just stamped and handed the document back. It's not that much of an issue for most, but as ever, there will be the odd official who makes a bit more of it than others. I always avoid going to Preveza port police if possible as thay always seem more bureaucratic than others. Unless there's a Grand Prix on the TV, in which case they refuse to deal with you!
On several occasions when I have asked for mine to be stamped it was more than two months since the last. Nobody said a word, just stamped and handed the document back. It's not that much of an issue for most, but as ever, there will be the odd official who makes a bit more of it than others. I always avoid going to Preveza port police if possible as thay always seem more bureaucratic than others. Unless there's a Grand Prix on the TV, in which case they refuse to deal with you!
tri39
Well-Known Member
Is it possible to get a DEKRA at Gouvia marina, or do you still have to go to Corfu town. I would be arriving from Croatia or even Albania!
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Gouvia marina DEKRA service was excellent, apart from the cost of staying in the marina. Very helpful police officer when we cleared in, and clear notice of what is required in future, e.g. the requirement to only have it stamped every month/30 days.
There is a very good, large supermarket on the southerly side of the marina, out through the front gate and walk for 5 minutes. Don't be tempted to go in the northwards direction, where there are lots of 'supermarkets' selling poor stuff at high price.
There is a very good, large supermarket on the southerly side of the marina, out through the front gate and walk for 5 minutes. Don't be tempted to go in the northwards direction, where there are lots of 'supermarkets' selling poor stuff at high price.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Not sure the Port officer is there all the time as most of his work is stamping up charter boats. In October I had to go to the main office in Corfu Port - only for them to be out of stock of the forms! Got mine in Mourtos/Sivota on the mainland.
mike_bryon
Well-Known Member
Last season at Gouvia if you told them you were arriving from Croatia or Albania you were sent to Corfu town. However if you told them that your last port was Brindisi on passage from Croatia they did the paper work at Gouvia. So you might consider saving a few hours of your time by recording in your log a passage Croatia - Brindisi – Corfu.
deaks
Well-Known Member
I'd be careful of that one.
In 2005 I helped bring a number of small yachts down from Kremik in Croatia.
Due to bad weather we ended up in Brindisi for a few days being bashed up against the town quay.
On my boat was a fantastic Japanese lady who had lived in London for 30 years.
As we were a group of 6 yachts the lead skipper took all the passports to be checked.
Fast forward to the group flying out of Preveza.....where's Emi gone to?
We found her, a little 60 yr old Japanese woman being detained by the police as she tried to come through Security.
Q. 'where have you come from? how did you get into Greece?
A Sailed in from Brindisi,
Q. So where is your stamp of entry into the EU?
It took somebody from the sailing company to vouch for her. The rest of us intimidated the police man and he just dug his heels in even more.
As the Japenese passport was red like the new British ones it had been overlooked by the Italian Port police.
She was threatened with a 500 euro fine. They wrote in her passport some long winded Greek instruction and she just managed to get on the plane.
So yes know the offical way and make sure you're well prepared......just in case.
John
In 2005 I helped bring a number of small yachts down from Kremik in Croatia.
Due to bad weather we ended up in Brindisi for a few days being bashed up against the town quay.
On my boat was a fantastic Japanese lady who had lived in London for 30 years.
As we were a group of 6 yachts the lead skipper took all the passports to be checked.
Fast forward to the group flying out of Preveza.....where's Emi gone to?
We found her, a little 60 yr old Japanese woman being detained by the police as she tried to come through Security.
Q. 'where have you come from? how did you get into Greece?
A Sailed in from Brindisi,
Q. So where is your stamp of entry into the EU?
It took somebody from the sailing company to vouch for her. The rest of us intimidated the police man and he just dug his heels in even more.
As the Japenese passport was red like the new British ones it had been overlooked by the Italian Port police.
She was threatened with a 500 euro fine. They wrote in her passport some long winded Greek instruction and she just managed to get on the plane.
So yes know the offical way and make sure you're well prepared......just in case.
John
Sybaris
Well-Known Member
You wrote that the Lady had been living in London for 30 years. Didn't she have any visa stamps, work permit, UK residence papers or proof of actually being legally living in the EU?
Ken_Irby
N/A
This is what the boss calls bo``oks. we keep our boat right under the pp in gouvia and have never done this once a month business since we bought new dekra in 2004. are we due to have our boat confiscated? i think not
Kentrina
Kentrina
Ken_Irby
N/A
This is how it is. pp dekra is ex-schengen job creation scheme but you are inaccurate in saying why he is not there since he or they only stamp charter boat papers in their office at gouvia. charter boat companies fear pp because they can object to renewal of their licences in january if they do not play ball with job creation scheme. trust my words. i have been there many years.
Kentrina
Kentrina
Ken_Irby
N/A
Not entirely accurate
Aldi to north has better fruit and vegetables than a-b. yes the other supermarkets are not good and often stink. a-b is very visible from marina but best fresh fruit and vegetables are at small seller opposite a-b on divided highway.
Kentrina
Aldi to north has better fruit and vegetables than a-b. yes the other supermarkets are not good and often stink. a-b is very visible from marina but best fresh fruit and vegetables are at small seller opposite a-b on divided highway.
Kentrina
Ken_Irby
N/A
Why you tell him to be careful? he is british and based in venezia. why does he want to know twaddle about old japanese lady and her travel adventures? this thread is about eu boats arriving in greece.
Kentrina
Kentrina
deaks
Well-Known Member
As LadyJessie quite rightly states, better to know the rules . Ignorance in the example I gave was no excuse as far as the airport Police were concerned.
So I was simply giving an example as to what can go wrong and the consequences.
Regards the boat being in Venice, sorry I can't find that information on this thread would that be relevant?
'Twaddle'.... your entitled to your opinion
So I was simply giving an example as to what can go wrong and the consequences.
Regards the boat being in Venice, sorry I can't find that information on this thread would that be relevant?
'Twaddle'.... your entitled to your opinion
deaks
Well-Known Member
The lady maybe did have lots of paperwork to prove who she was and that she had been resident in Britain for 30years. But she explained that if she held a British Passport then she would have had to surrender her Japanese one.
As a tourist travelling around she had only ever needed her Japanese passport....as long as she had it stamped!
As a tourist travelling around she had only ever needed her Japanese passport....as long as she had it stamped!
BrianH
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The lady maybe did have lots of paperwork to prove who she was and that she had been resident in Britain for 30years. But she explained that if she held a British Passport then she would have had to surrender her Japanese one.
[/ QUOTE ]
This reminds me of a Japanese friend, married to an Englishman, arriving in Heathrow after visiting her parents in Tokyo and being questioned by an immigration officer. Incredulous and showing disbelief that she had chosen to retain her Japanese passport (because of being denied Japanese dual nationality) when she could (in those days) qualify for British nationality.
She said that she had previously thought Japanese nationalism was bad - until coming to live in the UK.
The lady maybe did have lots of paperwork to prove who she was and that she had been resident in Britain for 30years. But she explained that if she held a British Passport then she would have had to surrender her Japanese one.
[/ QUOTE ]
This reminds me of a Japanese friend, married to an Englishman, arriving in Heathrow after visiting her parents in Tokyo and being questioned by an immigration officer. Incredulous and showing disbelief that she had chosen to retain her Japanese passport (because of being denied Japanese dual nationality) when she could (in those days) qualify for British nationality.
She said that she had previously thought Japanese nationalism was bad - until coming to live in the UK.
artemis07
Active Member
The office at Gouvia is only open during the summer and closes about 1400. Be prepared for a looong wait (could be 2 days). The police are polite and work quickly but it still takes at least 10 minutes minimum even when you arrive fully prepared. The Italians don't seem to bother since they arrive in July and leave the last weekend of August.
