The sea border between the two countries bordering the Aegean has been officially closed for over a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, no charter or owner yacht has been able to cross the border from the Turkish mainland coast to the Greek islands or vice versa. This is because the Greek Coastguard strictly monitored compliance, and anyone who attempted to cross the border anyway was arrested and risked heavy fines. The tense relations between Greece and Turkey over disputes about test drilling for gas deposits in the Aegean certainly played a role in the drastic measure. However, Turkey has also recently become a coronavirus high-risk area again.
But now the Greek authorities have opened the border, albeit only on a weekly basis in a rather complicated procedure, as reported by the Greek agency Rhoditis (tel. +30/ 6937005447, www.rhoditisyachting.com) Yachting on Rhodes, which specialises in clearing in and out for yacht crews at the Greek ports of entry on Rhodes and Symi. In fact, the Greek authorities have issued a corresponding decree, which initially limits the opening to 12 to 19 August, after which it will be decided on a week-by-week basis whether the regulation will also apply to the next period. Owners in Turkey who have been trying to move their boats from the area to Greek waters for some time must therefore either act very quickly or hope that the regulation will be extended.
You can cross the border at the Port of Entries on Rhodes, Symi, Kos, Kavala, Myrina on the island of Limnos, Mytilene, Kalymnos, Chios, Scala on Patmos, Vathi and Pythagorion on Samos and Agia Marina on Leros. You must register there at least six hours before arrival. There you can probably also find out whether the regulation has been extended. Alternatively, you can contact agencies such as Rhoditis, which will take care of the administrative formalities for the skipper for a fee.
In addition, Greece has also published the coronavirus entry regulations at the same time. When entering the country, each crew member needs a full vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test that is not older than 72 hours or an antigen test that is not older than 48 hours. In addition, everyone must register their entry in person beforehand via the Greek entry registration, the so-called PLF, which must be completed online or via app. https://travel.gov.gr.
