In response to the Greek Cruising Tax

Created by doina. Last modified on 2006-06-23 11:29:00
Countries: Greece

As Canadians we are a non EU boat and non EU nationals. We entered Greece in Corfu in August 2004. We were issued a Transit Log, the exact same one as issued to EU Boats. There was no mention of an additional Cruising Permit and Tax at that time. Nowhere in the document does it mention this tax either. We checked into and out of all the ports on our 60 day cruise through the area. We transited the Corinth Canal and circled the Peloponnese. What we discovered along that way was discrimination against non-EU boats. Our neighbours on the same size boat were charged 6 euros on a town quay and we were charged 12. The same held for the Canal transit, although the comparison was with a Greek flagged vessel of the same size. He paid half the fee we did.

In November, having arrived at Levkas Marina and paid a 3 month stay anticipating hauling the boat, we were informed by the marina that we would need permission to haul the boat from the port captain. When we saw him he told us that we would have to pay a tax of 15.67 Euros per meter plus vat at the end of our first three months and again every three months after that. Naturally we were appalled and refused to pay. We cancelled our haul out and left Greece in a hurry for Turkey. The Greek Tax System drove us out. We will not return to Greece and this is unfortunate as it is a wonderful place to cruise. What we saw of it was lovely. We feel that Greece is after money and since the EU nationals won their fight in the EU courts the burden now fall on all the remaining nationals. I fully support Limerence in their drive to abolish this unfair tax on non EU boats.

Sue Antifaoff