Turkish charter 'straying' into Greece

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pika_pika_pika

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I've spent three days on the internet trying to find out what the risk is of visiting some of the Dodecanese islands with a Turkish charter without clearing out/in/out/in, but am none the wiser regarding the chances of getting checked and what the repercussions are if caught out. We're about to charter just one week out of Yalikavak, and going through the official clearing in and out procedures would take too much time and be too expensive. I am sure we'll love exploring the Turkish coast, but we love Greek island sailing and would just love to stop off at one or two. If hoisting the Greek courtesy flag and avoiding Greek ports of entry - i.e sticking to smaller Greek islands and anchoring in bays rather than ports - what is the risk of getting caught? We've sailed in the Greek Dodecanese once, mid October and were never checked by anyone, but maybe that was because it was a Greek charter and end of season? Is the risk greater/smaller the further you get away from Turkey - Agathonisi, Arki? What about Vathi on Kalymnos, Pedhi on Symi or Tilos? I'm getting the impression that 'nipping over to Greece' is common amongst charterers, or am I just reading what I'd like to hear? All advice eagerly awaited and much appreciated. (And yes, why not just charter from Greece? Long story).
 
Use an agent to clear out of Turkey while you're stocking up or taking in the sites. Clearing in in Greece is painless and in some places such as Kos or Symi can be done in half an hour whilst your crew take in the sites. Can't speak for anywhere else though.

It is entirely possible to do as you suggest and in some places such as Kastelorizo, very common, but I'm not sure anyone is going to recommend it.

PT.
 
truscott said:
Use an agent to clear out of Turkey while you're stocking up or taking in the sites. Clearing in in Greece is painless and in some places such as Kos or Symi can be done in half an hour whilst your crew take in the sites. Can't speak for anywhere else though.

It is entirely possible to do as you suggest and in some places such as Kastelorizo, very common, but I'm not sure anyone is going to recommend it.

PT.
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Hi Truscott, many thanks for you advice.To be honest, apart from having limited time, we were also told it would cost us 2x 170 euro in Turkey to go through the procedure (agent's fees) and 2x 80 euros in Greece - that together with the time it would take during a week's charter, makes the option to 'nip into Greece' once or twice unofficially rather more tempting. I very much appreciate that no-one here is going to recommend what I suggested, but I am curious what other skippers on Turkish yachts have experienced in the area (who've gone through the procedures of course : ) How often have people experienced checks / been asked?
 
Never been checked in Turkey or Greece and only had a discussion once (in Symi town) about Transit Logs. As it happens, we were about to check out, so were simply given instructions to go to the Passport Police, then Customs and finally to surrender the TL at the Port Police. Total cost for checking out was zero (0) Euro's.

Check in costs in Kos (on a Sunday) was 30 Euro. Once again, Passport Police first, then Customs (for the TL) and finally Port Police for the stamp.

Did not visit the Port Police with the TL in Nisiros and Tilos (there are offices in both places). There is no Port Police in Panormitis or Alimye either.

Check out & in for Turkey using agents in Bodrum and Bozburun was 80 Euro each time (we already had 90 day visa's from arriving via Istanbul airport, so no charges for Visas there). Used Sky Marine in Bodrum Marina (just behind the fuel jetty) and Ludos in Bozburun.

Your price of 170 Euro seems way high. Are you sure this wasn't Turkish Lira?

In the grand scheme of things, 210 Euro's total was a small price to pay to enjoy some great spots in the Dodecanese. We're heading back for longer next year.

PT.
 
It was about five years ago but we regularly (four or five years running) used to take a moorings catamaran out of gocek and take it to Simi and Rhodes. I would want to check in and out properly but it was never a huge problem. Providing the charter company has all the documentation correct (and they did not to begin with) then it was a visit to three offices in Turkey, took about half an hour and only the port police in Simi. Rhodes used to be a pain so I stopped checking out from their as the wanted three offices and a long walk!

Costs where minimal I think doing it myself. DEKPA for Greece and a new set of visas reentering Turkey.

I think if the Greek port police got excited you would be in a lot of trouble and I think the charter company would also take a pretty dim view since ultimately it is them that would have the problem (boat impounded in Greece!)

The only exception I know of is Kastolorizo but I suspect the Turks still think its theirs anyway!
 
I know a lot of owners nip back and forth between the two. In Greece at least an EU-flagged owned (ie. non-charter) yacht is largely invisible to the authorities - unless you moor in front of the port police office of course ;)

However, a Turkish-flagged charter yacht, with the charter company's name on the boom and flying the charter company's house flag for example, is going to stick out like a sore thumb in Greece and you will probably attract attention.

As has been mentioned, the penalties if you're unlucky enough to be caught out could be most unpleasant. If it were me I'd stick to Turkish waters. :)
 
We've done it, but only into kastelorizon, which seems accepted. I suspect the charter firm will take a dim view, and it is them that will have to provide you with the original boat documents, courtesy flag etc. Our yacht is uk flagged, so did not arouse any suspicion - we were greeted at the harbour with a 'welcome back to the EU'!

Neil
 
Thank you

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. We've got a day to spare before the charter starts so will look into getting the formalities done ourselves, the charter company seems to put a huge surcharge on top. And otherwise we'll probably stick to Turkey, as yes, if we did run into trouble the charter company would probably not be best pleased. Many thanks for everyone's advice!
 
When moving from one Soveriegn state to another you naturally should comply with the rules, however it is common practice for yachts to leave Turkey without 'leaving' and entering Greece. You should check into Greece and out again using the Greek Dekpa which will cost someone around €30. You then simply return to Turkey as though nothing had happened. It is however very important to change your flags and maybe not follow a coastguard cutter if possible. This assumes you have UK passports as they won't get stamped in and out of Greece.

I know of many Turks who are simply not allowed into Greece as they don't have a Schengen Visa, simply enter and don't do any paperwork at all. I've even watched several have arguments with the harbourmaster about paying €5 berthing fees, and the harbourmaster doesn't shop them to customs/immigration, so I shouldn't loose too much sleep over it.
 
I would suggest you read your charter party or contract. Pay particular attention to cruising area and insurance. If you stray out of the cursing area you may not be covered.
 
You will be noticed unless you leave/arrive very early or late

We brought a boat back home to Greece from Turkey last year http://www.eclipsesailing.gr/category/eclipse-sailing-blog/. We avoided customs simply because we arrived after they knocked off for the evening and left at dawn - not that we were trying to, we were just in a hurry. They finally caught up with us at Halkida - Evia - , where they kept us for 3 days while they sorted out our paperwork.
I really wouldn't risk it because of the huge delays that may be involved if your paperwork isn't up to date. They are really quite hot on checking transit logs. Don't think, incidentally that Simi is kinda out of the way and you won't get noticed. It's one of the most efficient small ports we've been to. You can't moor there without being checked. They also have guys who help you moor and charge 5 euros for doing so. It has, by the way, a fiendishly deep harbour (37m as I recall) so check your depth gauge before dropping anchor or you won't let out nearly enough chain. You won't find the Greeks unhelpful or unwelcoming, I might add and they do understand you are on holiday. Your main headache will be getting the exit paperwork sorted in Turkey. Where we were - in Marmaris - we had to pay all sorts of middle men to smooth the path for us - 50 euros, or so as I remember.

maxy said:
When moving from one Soveriegn state to another you naturally should comply with the rules, however it is common practice for yachts to leave Turkey without 'leaving' and entering Greece. You should check into Greece and out again using the Greek Dekpa which will cost someone around €30. You then simply return to Turkey as though nothing had happened. It is however very important to change your flags and maybe not follow a coastguard cutter if possible. This assumes you have UK passports as they won't get stamped in and out of Greece.

I know of many Turks who are simply not allowed into Greece as they don't have a Schengen Visa, simply enter and don't do any paperwork at all. I've even watched several have arguments with the harbourmaster about paying €5 berthing fees, and the harbourmaster doesn't shop them to customs/immigration, so I shouldn't loose too much sleep over it.
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