Legal frame
Governing: law 4926/2022 arts 13–14; ITU List IV notes for Greece; KESEN regulation (ΦΕΚ Β' 6215/2024 as amended); ΓΚΛ 50. Builds on: L4.1, L5.1.
The Port Authority
In Greece the Hellenic Coast Guard (Λιμενικό Σώμα – Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή) is port police, licensing office and search-and-rescue service in one. Its Port Authorities (Κεντρικά Λιμεναρχεία, Λιμεναρχεία, Λιμενικοί Σταθμοί) handle:
- clearances and arrival declarations;
- passenger and crew lists;
- speedboat licences, exams and rental approvals;
- enforcement of the port regulations (ΓΚΛ) and local bans.
Clearance in one table
| Yacht | Clearance (law 4926/2022 art. 14) |
|---|---|
| Greek- or EU-registered professional | Delivery and redelivery ports; first or last port on entry to or exit from Greece |
| Charter Permission or cruise-through charter | Every Greek port |
| EU/EEA private | Declare on entry and exit only |
| Non-EU private | Every port, with a Transit Log — unless it holds an Unlimited Transit Log |
A clearance permit is taken within 24 hours before departure, and arrival is declared within 24 hours after the voyage ends. On private yachts of any flag, a separate list of non-EU employees is visaed at the first and last Greek port and at any crew change (art. 13(4)).
Emergencies
| Channel | Use |
|---|---|
| VHF 16 (156.80 MHz) | Greek coast stations keep a 24 h watch for distress and safety traffic |
| JRCC Piraeus | The Coast Guard's rescue coordination centre; Olympia Radio stations back it up |
| RADIOMEDICAL ATHENS | Free medical advice by radio, with the Hellenic Red Cross; Greek, French or English; precede urgent calls with the urgency signal |
| 108 | Hellenic Coast Guard telephone line [secondary listing] |
| 112 | European emergency number [secondary listing] |
Olympia Radio also keeps watch on HF DSC (4207.5, 6312, 8414.5, 12577 and 16804.5 kHz) and broadcasts weather and navigational warnings in Greek and English after an announcement on channel 16.
WARNING — After an accident Give immediate help, then report to the Port Authority. An alcohol test is compulsory after any fatal or injury accident involving a speedboat or water-sports craft (ΓΚΛ 20 art. 25).
Where to train
| You want | Where |
|---|---|
| Greek professional titles and upgrades | ΑΕΝ academies; KESEN centres; special sections of public maritime schools; private ΝΕΚΕ providers |
| GMDSS ROC (Greek coastal and yacht masters) | KESEN ROC section |
| SRC / LRC for NON-SOLAS yacht crew | KESEN, under the 2026 amendment |
| Greek speedboat licence | An approved speedboat school: at least 12 lessons, then the Port Authority exam; oral via a paid interpreter if you do not read Greek |
xplor is not a school and its courses do not count towards any of these. For study alongside them: Greek Speedboat Licence prep, SRC/VHF, the COLREGs trainer, Master (Yachts) and Red Ensign Flag Endorsements.
TIP — Save the local numbers On arrival, note the local Port Authority's VHF working channel and phone from the pilot book or the harbour office, and put them on the bridge card next to 108 and 112.