The Transit Log
After the run around of 11 government people from 3 buildings not knowing where the customs office was, we finally found it our selves just across from where we are moored. An 8.30 appointment the next day was made. After Francis( Aussie and wife with their boat just back in the water) wrote in his blog about trying to get his log back from last year, turning into a frustating use of time due to bureaucratic red tape and inefficiency of staff, had us ready for a complete morning in their office.
Come in and go down to John at the end of the hall.......good reception. John was expecting us and after small pleasantries we found John has a brother in Melbourne......things are looking better. Now the paper work!!!!!!! Please can I have your passports...and bill of sale...and deregistration papers... and, oh, wait there is no number on it. Oh NO!!!! this is the piece of paper that took 6 weeks to get. I must find it he says. Meanwhile please fill in these papers, in triplicate using wait for it....carbon paper. Can you believe? John finally returns, says nothing about the missing number and proceeds to screen the filled in papers. Now he says they have to be stamped.....in an other office. Finally comes back, and almost finished but I can't give you the log until you get a Stat Dec from the Port Authority stating when the boat arrived in Lavrio. This meant we leave the customs office and go to the port authority (where had asked directions the day before). Come in to the rabbit warren. You must pay your marina fees before we will give you the information....Okay how much? When did you bring the boat here? We didn't bring the boat here. It was here when we came. Do you know when it came? Sometime in March we think. George the Australian Port Authority worker arrives and tells her to ring Nickos from the marina........Nickos being a nice man said 29th March, so she and George determine that they can only give the declaration til today. So marina fees were determined from 29th March until 24th April. Bonus. Worked out at €5 per day .
Back to John at the customs office who finished the procedure. He explains the log. Every time we leave a Greek port, we have to have it stamped and when we get to the next island we have to go to the port police or customs and have it stamped and done again when we leave there to move on...reminds me of in the Caribbean where you have to clear in and out of the islands, but then they are different countries, this is just for Greece. I ask about going into Turkey and back into Greek waters and he said for a few days it is too much work so just go and say nothing. Just continue with the transit log as tho' you hadn't left Greek waters. So there you have it ,an hour and a half and we were back on the boat with a have a nice day from John and he didn't ask for any money. We had been told the log was €80 so we had 2 bonuses in the episode. Things must be looking up, lets hope so!!!!!