In Greece, several plans to impose a high licence fee on private owners and charter companies have already failed. Either draft laws did not make it to the decision-making stage, or they were passed in parliament but then not implemented in ordinances by the responsible ministries and thus came to nothing. This also seemed to be the case with the bill that made it through parliament in 2014, but has been lying dormant ever since, leading many owners to hope that the problem had been solved.
But now something is happening, as the cruiser department of the DSV has learnt. KA representative Joachim Rollhäuser has learnt in a conversation with the responsible ministry that the necessary decree from the Minister of Shipping and Finance, which was previously missing, has recently been signed and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance. If it is signed there, it will be published in the law gazette and then the fee could be collected immediately, according to the cruiser department.
The fees outlined in the regulation differ greatly from the first draft in 2014; fees are now also due for smaller vessels of seven metres or more. A monthly fee is possible for crews sailing into the area; however, those with a permanent berth must pay annually. There are flat-rate fees for boats up to twelve metres in length, but above this there is a general fee of 8 euros per metre of boat. The current structure is as follows:
The tax plans are therefore significantly more expensive for owners of small boats, as in 2014 there was initially talk of ships under ten metres being completely exempt. It will therefore be particularly expensive for owners of vessels over twelve metres in size, with an average 44-foot yacht paying an annual fee of 1248 euros if the vessel is in the water all year round. For some owners, it may be attractive to leave the boat ashore in winter, as no fee is then due. However, the owner must obtain a corresponding certificate from the local harbour authorities. It is not yet known whether this in turn will incur fees.
While extensive discount models were provided for when the law was introduced in 2014, these are now relatively clear: those who pay for the entire year in December or January receive a ten per cent discount. Owners of yachts over twelve metres get a discount of 20 percent if they come to Greece during the year and then stay there.
The penalties for owners who are caught in the area without valid proof of payment of the fee are also quite rigorous: for boats of seven to eight metres 190 euros are due, 300 euros for boats of eight to ten metres, between ten and twelve metres in length 400 euros must be paid, over 1100 euros.
It is still unclear which authorities will collect the fees and how, as well as when the regulation will definitely apply. Owners should enquire with the authorities when updating their Dekpa papers in the spring.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
