Legal frame
Governing: law 4926/2022 (ΦΕΚ Α' 82) arts 1, 21, 86, as amended to law 5111/2024. Builds on: L1.1.
One page of legal history
For eight years, law 4256/2014 was the "tourist ships" law. Its articles 1–13 and 15 were repealed from 20 April 2022 by law 4926/2022 (ΦΕΚ Α' 82), art. 86. The consolidated text of law 4926/2022 runs to law 5111/2024 (ΦΕΚ Α' 76, 24 May 2024); no later amendment was found as of 30 September 2026.
WARNING — Out-of-date citations Charter-company FAQs, broker guides and even some consolidating websites still show law 4256/2014 texts. If a document cites "4256 art. 8" or "the ΔΕΚΠΑ", it predates 2022. Cite law 4926/2022 and say 4256 was repealed.
What law 4926/2022 covers
| Topic | Article |
|---|---|
| Definitions: private, professional, day-tourist boat, πλοίαρχος, κυβερνήτης | 1 |
| The e-Μητρώο Πλοίων kept by ΑΑΔΕ | 2 |
| Whole charter, passengers vs beds, private charter ban | 3 |
| Minimum charter days | 4 |
| Charter Permission for foreign-law yachts over 35 m | 8 |
| Τ.Ε.Π.Α.Δ.Α.Χ. fee | 9 |
| Manning | 11 |
| Charterparty, passenger list, clearance | 12–14 |
| Insurance, penalties | 17, 19–20 |
| Delegated decisions and transitional rules | 21 |
The definitions you use every day
- Πλοίο αναψυχής (pleasure vessel): over 7 m, sail or motor, used mainly for pleasure voyages.
- Ιδιωτικό (private): classed private under the flag-state's law and used privately. Chartering a private yacht, or advertising it for charter, is prohibited (art. 3(3)(δ)).
- Επαγγελματικό (professional): classed professional under flag-state law, exploited by whole-vessel charter, up to 49 passengers.
Πλοίαρχος and κυβερνήτης
- Πλοίαρχος (master): a seafarer with the appropriate CoC issued or recognised by the flag state, given command under articles of agreement (art. 1(κα)).
- Κυβερνήτης: on a professional yacht with no mandatory manning, the employee, self-employed person, passenger, owner or operator holding the proof of competence set by ministerial decision (art. 1(κβα)). On yachts keeping a crew list it is a seafarer (κβγ, κβδ). A κυβερνήτης has a master's powers.
Until a new decision is issued, that proof is set by Υ.Α. 3342/02/2004 (ΦΕΚ Β' 478), with paragraphs 2–3 replaced by Υ.Α. 3342/13/2004 (ΦΕΚ Β' 1330) — art. 21(1)(γ). It accepts Greek titles, the speedboat licence for motor yachts, and foreign state, club or sailing-school certificates. Bareboat Chartering in Greece covers it from the charterer's side.
Loose ends in the texts
- Law 4211/2013 art. 13 (the ΤΕΠΑΗ fee) still refers to the "article 1 of 4256/2014" definitions. It is a drafting gap with no known practical effect.
- There is no "ΜΕΘ" or "ΜΕΠΑ" register; the register is the e-Μητρώο. ΝΕΠΑ is a company form.
TIP — Check the date on the document When a Port Authority form or agent's checklist uses 4256 terminology, it is usually an old template rather than a different rule. Ask which article of 4926/2022 it relies on.