Ancillary

Anchoring & Protected Areas in Greece: Zakynthos, Alonissos, Bathing Zones & the New Marine Parks

GR-PARKSIssued by YNANP

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Modules
4
Lessons
8
Questions
40

Independent study. xplor is not affiliated with the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Hellenic Coast Guard / Port Authorities, ΑΑΔΕ or any marine park body, is not an approved sea-school (σχολή ταχυπλόων) or training centre, and awards no licence, title, certificate or permit. Park zones, seasonal bans and local harbour-master decisions change from year to year, so check the current decision with the Port Authority or the park body before you anchor. AI-drafted content pending subject-matter-expert review.

Drafted from ΓΚΛ 20 (ΥΑ 3131.1/03/1999, ΦΕΚ Β' 444/1999, replaced by ΥΑ 2131.4/90224/2022, ΦΕΚ Β' 6543/21.12.2022; e-ΔΛΑ consolidation of 16.06.2025) arts 2, 4, 26, 27 and 37, as amended by ΥΑ 2131.4/52320/2026 (ΦΕΚ Β' 4559/24.07.2026); ΚΔΝΔ (ν.δ. 187/1973, ΦΕΚ Α' 261) art. 157 as replaced by law 4532/2018 art. 24 (secondary copy); Π.Δ. 1.12.1999 on the Zakynthos National Marine Park (ΦΕΚ Δ' 906/22.12.1999, amended ΦΕΚ Δ' 1272/27.11.2003); the Hellenic Coast Guard and park-body rules for the Alonissos – Northern Sporades National Marine Park; Heraklion Central Port Authority decision 26/18 of 14.06.2018 (Diavgeia ΑΔΑ Ω58Ζ4653ΠΩ-ΦΝΘ); law 4926/2022 (ΦΕΚ Α' 82) as amended to law 5111/2024, art. 10(5); Directive 92/43/EEC; and labelled press and NGO sources on the South Aegean and Ionian parks (to 1 Oct 2026) and on posidonia..

Rule notes (12)

  1. Recent change

    Law 4256/2014 was largely replaced in 2022

    Articles 1–13 and 15 of law 4256/2014 were repealed on 20 Apr 2022 by law 4926/2022 (ΦΕΚ Α' 82), last amended by law 5111/2024. Many charter-company and agency pages still quote the old law. Check any rule you are given against law 4926/2022.

    Sources

  2. Sources disagree

    Charter Permission: 21 + 7 days or 28?

    Law 4926/2022 and its joint decision give non-EU-flag yachts over 35 m a Specified Period Charter Permission of 21 days plus 7; the Ministry's procedure register (mitos.gov.gr) says 28 days. No annual decision for 2024–2026 was found. Plan on 21 days until the Ministry confirms otherwise.

    Sources

  3. Not confirmed

    Is the ICC accepted in Greece?

    Greek port regulation ΓΚΛ 50 art. 3(19) accepts foreign licences issued or recognised by a state authority, carried with an official translation and a consular certificate. It does not mention the ICC. The German Embassy in Athens says Greece has not adopted the UNECE resolution behind the ICC. Carry your national licence with the paperwork, not the ICC alone.

    Sources

  4. Not confirmed

    No second-crew-member rule found in law

    Many charter companies say a bareboat skipper must be accompanied by a second crew member with sailing experience. No such rule was found in law 4926/2022 or Υ.Α. 3342/02/2004 as amended. Treat it as a company or insurer condition, and check your charter contract.

    Sources

  5. Not confirmed

    No numeric alcohol limit for boat operators

    Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited, but no numeric blood or breath limit for boat operators was found in the port regulations read. Port Police carry out alcohol checks. Do not drink before or while in charge of a boat.

    Sources

  6. Recent change

    2026 rules for rentals and bathing areas

    ΦΕΚ Β' 4559/2026 bans powered craft from moving or anchoring inside bathing buoys, regulates inflatable sea playgrounds, bars rental operators from giving lessons and requires satellite tracking and remote control on rented jet skis from 24 Dec 2026.

    Sources

  7. Not confirmed

    VAT on charters: two open questions

    An ΑΑΔΕ circular of Feb 2026 puts crewed charter at 13 % and bareboat at 24 %. It is not confirmed whether the 50 % taxable base for charters mostly outside Greek waters (decision Α.1018/2020) survived the 2024 VAT Code or applies at 13 %, nor how the "70 %" rule for permit yachts is calculated. Take tax advice.

    Sources

  8. Rule to know

    Protected areas: Zakynthos and Alonissos

    In the Zakynthos National Marine Park (1 May–31 Oct) Area A is closed to all craft and Areas B and C have a 6 kn limit, with no stopping or anchoring in B. In the Alonissos–Northern Sporades park no vessel may go within 3 nm of Piperi. The new South Aegean and Ionian marine parks were not yet in force when read.

    Sources

  9. Not confirmed

    Recognition of non-EU CoCs not confirmed

    Greece's list of non-EU States whose certificates it recognises (for example the UK, US and Marshall Islands) could not be read because the Ministry site blocked access. EU certificates are endorsed, with up to 3 months' service allowed while the endorsement is pending.

    Sources

  10. Not confirmed

    New marine parks not yet in force

    The South Aegean (Southern Cyclades) park decree was reportedly signed on 15 Jul 2026 and sent to the Council of State; no ΦΕΚ publication was found by 1 Oct 2026, and the Ionian decree has not been signed. Their content in this course comes from press reports of the draft.

    Sources

  11. Sources disagree

    Zakynthos: where may you anchor?

    The 1999 decree bans stopping and anchoring in Areas A and B; the park's own site says anchoring is allowed "only in Area C". Treat Areas A and B as closed to anchoring and check the park's current guidance.

    Sources

  12. Not confirmed

    Do bathing-buoy bans cover yachts?

    The 2026 wording of ΓΚΛ 20 art. 26(3) bans powered leisure craft inside bathing buoys. Whether it legally covers yachts that are not speedboats is unclear; the course treats the buoyed zone as closed to all powered craft, tenders included.

    Sources

GR-PARKS-M1 · What national law does and does not say

2 lessons

GR-PARKS-M1-A What Greek national rules say about anchoring and bathing zones, and how local harbour-master bans work.

In preparation
GR-PARKS-L1.1National rules: no posidonia ban, ΓΚΛ 20 distances and the 2026 bathing-buoy ruleGreece has **no national posidonia anchoring ban** that we could find, but it does have hard distances around swimmers, and since July 2026 **no powered craft may move or anchor inside bathing buoys**.PreviewGR-PARKS-L1.2Local harbour-master bans and how to find themThe rule that catches most yachts is not national: it is the **seasonal decision of the local harbour master**, posted on Diavgeia and enforced with fines of up to **€60,000**.Locked

GR-PARKS-M2 · Protected areas

3 lessons

GR-PARKS-M2-A The Zakynthos and Alonissos marine parks in detail, the status of the new parks, and Natura 2000.

In preparation
GR-PARKS-L2.1Zakynthos National Marine Park: Laganas Bay Areas A, B and CLaganas Bay is the loggerhead turtles' main Mediterranean nesting ground. From **1 May to 31 October** Area A is shut to all craft, and Areas B and C are **6-knot** zones.LockedGR-PARKS-L2.2Alonissos – Northern Sporades National Marine ParkGreece's first marine park protects the Mediterranean monk seal. Remember three numbers: **3 nm** off Piperi, **10 kn** within **0.5 nm** of the protected islands, and **named bays** for anchoring, mostly by day only.LockedGR-PARKS-L2.3The new South Aegean and Ionian parks, and Natura 2000Two large new parks have been announced, but as of **1 October 2026** neither decree has been published in the ΦΕΚ. Here is what is known, what is only reported, and how Natura 2000 fits in.Locked

GR-PARKS-M3 · Doing it right

2 lessons

GR-PARKS-M3-A Anchoring on sand, swing radius, stern-to mooring, crossed anchors and tender runs near swimmers.

In preparation
GR-PARKS-L3.1Anchoring on sand, not posidonia: technique and swing radiusFind sand, lay enough chain and know your swing circle. A 14 m yacht on 5:1 in 6 m of water swings through about **49.3 m**, more than most people guess.LockedGR-PARKS-L3.2Stern-to in crowded harbours, crossed anchors, tender runs and bathing zonesMost Greek town quays are **stern-to on your own anchor**, which means crossed chains on busy evenings. Then the tender run to the beach: **5 kn** inside 200 m and never through the buoys.Locked

GR-PARKS-M4 · Enforcement

1 lessons

GR-PARKS-M4-A Who enforces the rules, the fines and document seizures, and how to report.

In preparation
GR-PARKS-L4.1Who enforces, what it costs, and how to reportThe Coast Guard enforces the port rules and the park speed and anchoring limits; **ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ** now patrols the parks too. Fines run from **€50 to €60,000**, and without a Greek tax number your papers stay ashore until you pay.Locked