Posted 30th September 2015
Greece is at last in harmony with the rest of the European Union and from 1st October 2015 will now issue Transit Logs to non-EU boats valid for 18 months.
This is the normal Temporary Importation (TI) period for non-EU registered boats sailed by a non-EU skipper in the European Union. In addition, this period can be extended by 6 months if the boat is officially laid up and recorded as such by the Customs Authority.
Boats already in Greece are best advised to leave, surrender their existing 6-month Transit Log and re-enter the country. It may be possible to have an existing Log extended but the procedure on how, or if, this can be done is currently uncertain.
Carrying a copy of the official Greek Government document which includes (among many other things!) the new regulation regarding Transit Logs for private boats might be advisable as it is possible not all officials are aware of the change to the regulations.
Here is a copy of the original document (in Greek) Greece: New Transit Log Regs
Our thanks to Stratos Paisios for advising Noonsite of this information.
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After one year of cruising, my understanding of the rules that apply to transit logs is the following. When a yacht under transit log arrives in a new harbour in Greece, it is necessary to check in with the port police to get an entry stamp for that harbour.
If there is a change in crew, the crew list needs to be updated and stamped. When the yacht leaves, it needs to get an exit stamp. I have had one experience where the port police (on Samos) refused to stamp the transit log saying that it was technically required.
But failure to get the stamp carried no penalty. Other port police offices (Lavrio, among others) have said that there are steep fines for failure to follow this process.
I’ve been advised (in Porto Heli), however, that this procedure is only required if the yacht actually moors in the harbour – i.e. if one anchor in the harbour without lines ashore, the process is not required.