Greek Permit to Cruise for EU Flagged vessels– DEKPA – UPDATE
Over the last 6 months, the Cruising Association has been attempting to clarify the regulations surrounding the replacement DEKPA. With answers now translated into English, the CA have reported to noonsite what they have found out.
Published 7 years ago, updated 5 years ago
THIS REPORT IS OUT OF DATE.
SEE LATEST INFORMATION HERE.
Our thanks to Christopher Robb of the CA for this report.
Over the last 6 months, the Cruising Association has been attempting to clarify the regulations surrounding the replacement DEKPA. We could get no response to a clear set of questions for months from the relevant Greek Directorates and when they did finally respond, they were in Greek. Translation using Google gave us sufficient understanding to put the facts together that were emerging from our members and the YBW forums, and in fact, once stocks of the new forms reached the office of the Port Police, the process has seemed to function, albeit in a rather cumbersome manner.
Of course there have been some wrinkles and Port Police not knowing about the law, but in general, that’s about the standard of training at the Ports and is par for the course in Greece.
Here is a summary of what we do know and what you need to do to comply. The problems may come on renewal.
To get your new DEKPA you need to present the following original documents:
- Registration Document
- Insurance certificate (in Greek)
- Passport for every person on the registration certificate (this could be a problem for shared ownership yachts). *
- ICC or equivalent **
- Receipt for the €50 fee ***
* Notarised copies of Passports will be acceptable where not all owners are present.
** Whilst you may not get a query presenting your RYA Yacht Master certificate, the official line is that there must be an authorised explanation in Greek that the certificate in question has sufficient standing. Please just, therefore, get an ICC and do not risk it.
*** The rules say you must use the online Greek Tax system and if you have problems, you can get help from the Port office and the Citizens Help Bureau (CSC). However, in practice, the Port Police will either direct you to a local bank or the local Tax office – or the CSC in order to pay. You will then go back with the receipt to the Port Police and they will issue the new DEKPA.
So far so good – apart from some Port offices who have not heard of it yet, or have run out of forms, or who think that its only for over 9-metre yachts (7 metre is the requirement), things seem to be running OK.
Now for the bits that have not come out:
1. Even if you have had your old DEKPA stamped recently this year, you MUST have the new form by 26th September 2017. No Ifs or Buts. There are fines mentioned in the law – so just get one.
2. Come renewal next year, the provisions of the Law REQUIRE YOU to have it stamped on the DUE DATE each year. There must be no lapses – again there are provisions for fines. We have been informed that owners who cannot be there at renewal must employ an Agent to act for them. This is wholly impractical and totally unacceptable.
We understand that many Port Police may just make you get a new DEKPA form – thus your “fine” will be €50. However, we have no clarification on this.
We have asked for clarification on the following:
1. What are the fines, and under what circumstances will they be levied?
2. Would they allow – like Croatia – a discretion for Port Police to backdate the stamp when the owner is finally present?
3. Is the reissue of a new DEKPA at €50 official policy for late renewal?
We would not condone deliberate avoidance in not holding a valid DEKPA.
Other Matters:
Proposed Greek Cruising Duty/Tax
There is no official information at all coming from the relevant Directorate as to when – or if – this duty will be collected. The only rumours we hear are that the Port Police have refused to collect it – but this is wholly unsubstantiated. We can but wait and see.
Banking Crisis?
Sailors need to be prepared for a re-run of 2015 cash crisis and may perhaps carry some emergency Euros if things get bad again. Let us hope it gets sorted.
Visit http://www.theca.org.uk for more information and to join the Cruising Association for detailed European Cruising info.
Cruising Association
CA House, 1 Northey Street, Limehouse Basin, London E14 BT
Tel: +44 (0)20 7537 2828 Fax: +44 (0)20 7537 2266
http://www.theca.org.uk, [email protected]
The Cruising Association is Britain’s leading organisation for cruising sailors. From its headquarters in London’s Limehouse Basin, it maintains close contact with more than 4300 members worldwide. Founded in 1908 it has one of the most extensive nautical libraries and cruising information centres in the world and works closely with European government and international bodies to protect the interests of leisure sailors. It also has specialist sections in 17 different cruising regions. The Association’s patron is Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE. For further information on the association please visit their website.
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Related to following destinations: Greece
So far this is the only speculation we have come across – http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/UnitedKingdom/uk-rya-what-will-brexit-mean-for-boating
Is it too early to speculate what Brexit will mean to UK-registered boats and crew?
With regard also to Jim’s post:
Non-EU flagged boats deal with Customs and they should deliver the Transit Log to Customs when wintering the boat.
EU flagged boats do not deal at all with Customs, but with the Port Police. PP will issue the DEKPA (50€) and this document should be stamped once a year (before 2014 was once a month, but no more).
The new DEKPA is for 5 years and should not be delivered to Customs when wintering, but it should be kept on board like the rest of the boat’s documents.
The information provided by Noonsite about the new DEKPA regulations is accurate.
With regard to Jim’s last comment, it is no longer a requirement to visit the Port Police in each Greek port you visit to get your DEKPA stamped.
As detailed in the Noonsite Formalities for Greece:
The Hellenic Coast Guard, colloquially known as Port Police or PP, should only be visited when:
(1) entering the country from outside the Schengen Area,
or
(2) once a year after that to have your DEKPA or transit log (Greek cruising papers) checked and stamped.
We left our boat in October 2015 at Aegina on the hard at Jordan Kanonis (the best there). We left our DEKPA – obtained in Corfu in August 2015 – with the Customs office in Aegina to stop/freeze it.
We launched the boat in July 2016, tied her up in Aegina Town, and went to retrieve our DEKPA. We were told we needed a new one, however, the Customs office could not issue one so we needed to go to Athens or Poros. We got the OK from the Port Police to go to Poros with no DEKPA.
So, we obtained a new DEKPA in late July 2016 in Poros – it cost 30 Euros. Then we went to Poros Police & got the DEKPA stamped.
We visited many Aegean Islands & Crete then went back to Kanosis & left the boat again for the winter, leaving the DEKPA with Customs again.
We returned May 10, 2017, and again, went to Customs to get our DEKPA. We got an extension (credit) for the time on-the-hard. We were charged 25 Euros – which I questioned.
The answer was – you pay 30 Euros for the new DEKPA & get 18 months of actual use, just not all at once. After 6 months, if the boat is put away (or not in use) & after some time (6-mo?) you can use it again for 6 months OR someone else could use the boat right after your 6-mo. then you could return.
Now, the 30 Euros for the DEKPA covers your first 6 months, which you can split up if needed (i.e. 2-mo use, 2-mo away, 4-mo use etc). After 6 months of use, you pay the 25 Euros for the next 6 month period and so on.
The Port Police do not issue DP’s, only stamp them. The Customs Office (and not all of them) issue. Getting your DP stamped at the local Police at each point is a pain as they are not always open, easy to get to, or even want to be bothered, so we just keep that to a minimum – some never bother. This is just what we have done.