Generally Greece is a trouble-free country for cruising boats, in particular in the Islands. The main areas where theft is on the rise is around Athens and the major harbors and resorts. Take sensible precautions with securing your boat and equipment, as you would anywhere.
There are regular strikes in Greece which are sometimes called at short notice and can cause disruption to public transport in and out of the country (including air travel and ports). Demonstrations take place regularly in central Athens and have also taken place in other towns and cities. You should avoid all demonstrations and follow the advice given by local security authorities.
For travel advisories, see the following websites:
Migrant Situation: Since the Migrant Crisis began in 2015, people are still trying to reach Europe with most migrants coming through the Eastern Mediterranean. A large proportion of migrants have first set foot on European soil in the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean. Thousands have ended up in camps on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos.
Greece has stepped up security on its borders, particularly in the Eastern Sporades and Dodecanese. With the increase in Greek Coastguard patrols it is wise to keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 at all times. Increased pressure from Turkey to stop migrants leaving Turkish shores has seen a dramatic decrease in numbers attempting the journey,
however many still do. In 2020 the Greek Government were planning to install a floating barrier off the island of Lesbos as an emergency measure to try and reduce the flow of migrants to Greece.
If recreational vessels spot migrant boats, it is important to have a plan to avoid interaction. Migrants have been known to sink their own boats to force a rescue mission. Contact the Coast Guard to notify them of the position of any migrant boats encountered so that the appropriate action can be taken.
GPS Interference: A continuing problem when sailing between Crete and Suez is that no NTMs are issued if the signals are being blocked for training. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) posted an Advisory stating that multiple instances of significant GPS interference have been reported worldwide in the maritime domain, resulting in lost or inaccurate GPS signals. It could put one 20-200 nm away from where one thinks. Plotting one’s course on paper charts can help recognize that this is happening.
Be sure to check related security reports for Greece.
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