The Port Police Polka

Tuesday 2nd July we headed for Aretsou Marina skirting the Traffic Separation Scheme for the large cargo vessels heading for Thessaloniki.

Salonica in the distance

I had visited Thessalonki many years ago in my youth and Louise had recently seen it from the air when flying home from here in May. We were both looking forward to a few days exploring the city.

It was not to be.

I should have taken the worst directions and assistance we have ever encountered in a marina as a warning from the fates.

The marina staff in the rib supposedly directing us in changed their minds at the last minute, pulled a lazy line across our stern as I was reversing in nearly wrapping our prop.

However safely in and relaxing, Lily ashore on the grass for a play, we were approached by a French guy on a boat near us who asked us if we were intending to / needing to visit the Port Police and if so – today would be the best day as he had had a terrible experience the day before culminating in the possibility of his boat being impounded. He hadn’t slept but when he went back today the people on duty were far more reasonable and helpful. I didn’t fully understand his issues but it was enough for me to decide to visit immediately to get my Dekpa stamped. As previously explained in an earlier blog this is an annual stamp required on your cruising permit. It should just be ….and has been in the past…. a formality.

NOT this time…….

In the interim it transpired there had been a shift change at the Port Police and “Medusa “was back.

At first all went swimmingly until the Tepai was asked for. This is the New Greek cruising tax.

It came into being in May and you have to pay for those months you are navigating. We paid for Jun through to October. We confirmed with the Port Police in Mytilini this was the correct procedure and we had a Marina receipt & a letter from them proving we were not moving until 2^nd June.

To cut a long story short she (Medusa) wanted us to pay a fine of 300 Euros because we had not paid tax for May. Eventually working my charm (Yes, sometimes I have some) I managed to get her to phone the PP and the marina in Mytilini.

My situation confirmed, the best she could do was talk to her boss and I should come back tomorrow. Four hours of my life I’ll never get back. However at least I wasn’t in handcuffs.

We went out that night with Wolfgang and Renate who where in the Marina as well, just to a local taverna it would have been 25 minutes by car in Thessaloniki proper.

On return to the PP office the next morning the guy on duty was aware of the situation but didn’t speak a word of English so he phoned “Medusa” Stella, and passed the phone to me. We were on 1^st name terms by now.

Her boss still wanted to fine me but to be fair to her and her colleague they suggested a solution. This was that I should go on line and pay for May retrospectively then travel 40 miles back south to Nea Moudhania and get my Dekpa stamped there! They couldn’t do it here because “They now knew about me”  and “only come back when my Dekpa was stamped “ Eh confused? Yes.

We didn’t think the solution was good idea as it looked like we were trying to hide something, when we haven’t done anything wrong.However we decided to go back South and try a different Port Police Office.

So marina fees paid , no visit to Thessaloniki proper, we set off again just before 13:00 all the way back down and through the canal to anchor for the night . We just made it after sun set but with still enough light to anchor . What a palaver

Approching & entering Aretsou marina the only pics we have of Thessaloniki, lol