Corinth Canal - Clearance
THE CANAL IS CLOSED FOR RESTORATION WORK AND WILL RE-OPEN FOR THE SUMMER OF 2023.
Pre-Arrival:
Vessels should send 72/24/6/3 hrs notices on their ETAs.
Prior to Transit:
Payment can only be made at the Isthmia side (Eastern), at the office under the control tower. Skippers should bring their documents (including boat papers) to the Customers Service Dept., located in the basement of the Control Tower. Payment can be made either in cash, by credit card or by bank transfer prior to the vessel’s transit.
For further details regarding bank transfer, please contact Customer Service Department at:
Tel.: +30 27410 30886 (24 hours)
Fax: +30 27410 30887 (24 hours)
Only vessels requesting a tug have to pay a surcharge.
Private yachts both Greek and foreign pay the same amount; however Greek
yachts (private & charter) registered in Isthmia, Loutraki and
Corinth pay a lower fee.
A vessel can only enter the canal when a permit has been granted by the Canal Service.
Transit:
The canal now has red above green lights on both port and starboard side of the canal at both ends.
By day and night: a green light is shown when entry is permitted, and a
red light when entry is not permitted (but only after verbal permission
to enter has been granted).
The cut is too narrow for ships to pass each other, so one must get permission to proceed. All vessels should contact the Isthmia control tower on VHF Channel 11 before entering the canal in order to find out what time to be at the canal entrance. There are waiting areas at both ends. Pilotage is not compulsory.
Usually, you will join a convoy which has
large ships at the head.
Yachts follow the commercial ships, which are taken through by tug. Do not follow too closely in order to avoid the prop wash.
The speed of a ship navigating the Canal must not exceed 6 knots. Upon entering and leaving the Canal, however, speed must be reduced to the minimum.
Last updated: June 2022
Corinth Canal Port Authorities (East side)
Corinth Canal – Prices, Procedure, Experience (August 2021)
Useful video of what’s involved when transiting the Corinth Canal by cruisers.
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Related to following destinations: Corinth Canal, Greece, Gulfs of Patras & Corinth
Port Navigation
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I called the Corinth Canal customer service number today and was told that the canal would open 1 June 2023. Happiness!
Thanks so much for reporting this information, it’s very helpful.
The cost to transit the canal is exuberant to say the least. There is nobody to take lines from boats docking at the pay station (East entrance) the dock is high more suitable for ships and the docking cleats are huge and far apart. It is really not good enough given the cost to use this facility that they don’t provide assistance with docking.
There are several street dogs hanging out on the dock, beware if you have pets to keep them on board, these dogs get aggressive with strange dogs.
One should complain to the pay master about the lack of help mooring, perhaps then they may do something about it.
It is a great experience! During 5 km you cross the canal between the huge mountains… First, you must call 11 VHF to ask for the permission and at the exit you will have to go to the office to pay. Our cata 420 200eur
We stayed 2 nights in the Corinth Yacht Harbour in Mid October 2014, on the Middle pier. Our draft of 1.7 metres was fine (although the depth gauge read 0.00!).
We were one of 2 yachts along side, both mid 30fters. Fresh water, no shore power, no fees (apparently ever). We were greeted by an elderly local chap called Jonathan (Stuart?), an Englishman (Cornish) ex-merchant navy man.
He helped us tie up and was a wealth of good information & advice. He appeared a bit down on his luck so we took him and his pet dog ‘Tico’ to dinner nearby and were treated to and evening of wonderful stories, fierce intelligence & good company.
Jonathan will look after your boat while you’re away, seems to know everyone in the area & speaks fluent Greek. I think he supplements is income (if any!) from helping visiting boaties to the harbour so if you’re greeted by a scruffy chap with a hat as you pull in.
Say hello, let him help you and thank him with a few euros. Its meeting colourful characters like Jonathan that makes sailing & travel so rewarding.
If you have any updates on our mate please let me know!
Posted on behalf of SY Funny Girl: Corinth Harbour
In the small harbour there is only place for 5 x 15m yachts.
Warning: at the middle pier there is only 1.60 meters of water depth, it can vary 80 cm under influence of wind.
Some concrete anchor blocks have less water above them and will hit your keel, so enter slowly to the pier.
ALternatively moor in the commercial harbour, there is a lot of space, but do not use the outer, huge breakwater as sometimes there arrives a 220-meter long ferry. Better ask the Port Police by VHF on channel 12 first.
The first 400 meters of the commercial quay, as seen from the small harbour, can be used either alongside or stern or bows to. I saw some alongside, space enough.
The city is modern, has several supermarkets, a pedestrian area and a lot of ATM machines.
Water for free with a hose at the middle pier.
Nobody came for money or registration.
Posted on behalf of SY Funny Girl:
We passed the canal yesterday the 11th of August, we did an overnight stay in Corinth city harbour. There is good quality drinking water with a hose at the middle pier, space for 3 x 15 m yachts.
Nobody asked for money, the Port Police passed, had a look at us, but said nothing else other than “Hello”. Next morning, from this harbour, we called on VHF channel 11 the canal control.
Told them that we were in the city harbor, and we were lucky, we could come directly to the entrance of the canal, which is only 1.25 mile away. They prepared the bridge at the western entrance and we could pass without waiting.
At the east side we moored without trouble and paid (11.95 X 3.95) 181,86 € with our credit card. All went smoothly and professional, within 10 minutes.
The canal passage itself is a must, it is spectacular. The canal is 25 meters wide and at the east side 52 meters high, but it looks and feels much narrower and higher. We had a 2 knot current against us.
Posted on behalf of Ignatios Souvatzis:
I passed the Corinth Canal from Saronikos to Gulf of Corinth last week. We overlooked VAT which increased our fee considerably (currently 23%). E.g. with our Lutra 52, we paid EUR 313.65 instead of the expected EUR 255.-
Btw, the online computation form adds the VAT explicitly.
http://www.aedik.gr/frontend/fee_calculator.php
Ignatios Souvatzis
Corinth Canal (Eastern Entrance)
We anchored overnight to the north side of this entrance in about 7 meters of water (37°55.1626 N 023°00.8364 E). Rather than take the boat alongside, in the morning we took the dinghy to make payment.
There is a great place to tie up a dinghy on the inside of the docking pontoon near the pedestrian bridge from the pontoon to land. I have not seen this mentioned anywhere.
Bill
BeBe Amel 53