Turkey - Clearance
Officials are particular about the Turkish courtesy flag, which must be flown from the correct position between 08:00 and sunset when cruising. The courtesy flag may be left up permanently when in port.
Yachts flying the ensign of the Republic of Cyprus will be refused entry to Turkish ports. This situation will, presumably, change if/when Turkey becomes a member of the European Union, but at present, this rule is being enforced.
Discharge of waste regulations now applies to all the Turkish coastline. See Restrictions for more details.
PRE-ARRIVAL
It is recommended, at least for the first visit to Turkey, to use an agent. Rules change and their interpretation by ports of call are often different from one another. Some ports now insist that you use an agent (Marmaris for example). Due to language difficulties, it may be easier to use an agent anyway. Many marinas can act as an agent. Fees can vary greatly.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
Any yacht coming from abroad must fly the Q flag and complete formalities at an official port of entry.
General Process:
On entry, formalities are completed with Harbour Master, Health, Passport Police and Customs in this order.
The agent will provide the transit log and deal with formalities. They will require the ships papers, insurance certificate, skippers license, and passports.
Each yacht must purchase a Transit Log, which is the travel document of the yacht during her stay in Turkey and states the yacht’s master, owner, intended ports in Turkey and registered inventory. See Documents for further details.
The skipper’s name should appear on the yachts’ registration certificate or on some official proof of ownership. Generally, it is wise to ask for receipts for any payments.
Remaining in Turkey:
Foreign-flagged yachts, on condition that they are sailed by their owners once every two years, can remain in Turkey up to five years without a requirement for any permission. For further details see Customs.
Domestic Cruising:
Transiting The Bosphorus or The Dardanelles
When within eight km (five miles) of the entrance into either the Bosphorus or the Dardanelles, boats should contact Traffic Control for further instructions. Although this provision only applies to boats over 20 meters LOA, it is recommended that smaller boats also comply with it. Boats in possession of a transit log are no longer required to stop at Canakkale and may proceed through the Dardanelles without stopping. The regulations are similar for boats going through the Bosphorus, who may continue towards ports on the Turkish Black Sea coast without stopping.
Cruising The Black Sea
You can now expect the Turkish Coast Guard to be more rigorous in checking documents of yachts cruising in this area.
CLEARING OUT
Departure from Turkey must be from an official Port of Entry and an agent is required to prepare all the paperwork and submit it to the various authorities.
If a yacht is leaving Turkish waters (even for a brief period) and planning to return within the time the transit log is valid, it must be surrendered on departure, and a new one obtained on re-entry.
When departing for foreign ports, yachts are required to complete full clearance procedures and surrender of the Transit Log with Harbour Master, Passport Police, and Customs, in that order.
Prior to clearing out, it is recommended cruisers speak to the Harbour Master first. Double handed yachts (just two crew) have reported that they were not required to use an agent for clearing out, in particular in Bodrum. Agents charge approx. 85 Euros for this service.
Please note that Visas for individuals are multiple entries, but the Transit Log is not. If Turkey is left in an emergency, without having been able to clear out correctly, the completed Section V should be handed into a Turkish consulate abroad within one month, otherwise, the yacht cannot return.
Departure for Greece:
Sea Borders opened between Greece and Turkey on August 12th, 2021, for yacht arrivals and departures with passengers, meaning cruising yachts can now move between the 2 countries with a number of ports of entry in Greece accepting yachts from Turkey. With the Covid situation and the terrible fires in Greece, this directive could be withdrawn at any time and is being renewed on a weekly basis. More information here.
Last updated: October 2021
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Think carefully about going to Marmaris for work on your boat. The yacht marina is actually a dustbowl that a lot of trades avoid. Like most of the marinas the locals liken it to a “mafia” – all labour charges incur a minimum of 20% surcharge. Also, if you try to have something delivered, a marina charge is applied. Everything imported into the country is typically 80% more expensive than what it costs in Europe. A typical chandlery in Marmaris city doesn’t take note of the ticketed price…. It’s the computer price you are charged, which sometimes is 3x the ticketed price. Some of the businesses in the yacht marina complex are very scammy – they will quote a favourable labor cost for doing a job & then charge say 80 euros for an alternator bearing that they don’t even use – you can buy a whole alternator online in the eu for less than that. (A full engine service will set you back several thousand euros on parts – when you have no way of knowing whether they were needed or not – a standard bill is issued with the parts) If you are thinking of getting work done at an attractive rate, forget it…. Most of the work I’ve seen was less than second rate. There is exceptions of course – and some mechanics really do know their stuff. many of the budinesx employees typically do not follow product application instructions and are just labourers that have no idea what they are doing.
Be careful with marina staff as a smile will certainly crack their face – you are considered a nuisance and second rate citizen. You will also be charged exorbitantly for moving your chocks during Antifoul. You will also be overcharged for water and power – that the servicing trades are using.
To top it all off, the marina atm will charge you 7.5% to take euros out when there is one bank in town that charges nothing – the slipway staff will also hassle you for a tip.
Don’t leave your boat in the marina there either…. We had our polished gel coat covered in black oily ooze. And …. Nobody cares – the garden staff are carefully picking up stray leaves whilst the marina is full of plastic waste and what looks like bunker oil. Lastly, you will pay 2 euro for a litre of diesel which sells for 20% less at service stations.
The restaurant/bar is good (food & service) as is the pool area…. Yes it’s free! The borabora bar is very inhospitable and will charge for wanting to sit on a lounge when it doesn’t get used all night. The supermarket and chandlery at the yacht marina are pretty good- a bit more than you’d pay in town, but not over the top.
In summary, there isn’t many places in the world we haven’t travelled – this would certainly rate as “scammers paradise” – expect to pay, pay and then some more
Hi to all,
We are selling our sailboat in Turkey to a German. We still have our transit log. Can somebody tell me the procedure for transferring the ownership to the new owner? He will keep the boat for a few month in Turkey and then sail back to his country of residence. I guess that we have to give back our Transit log and the new owner has to apply for a new one at his name.
Thank you for your advice.
Please see this link for full details – https://noonsite.wccstaging.com/place/turkey/formalities#documents-section
The existing Transit Log must be cancelled and a new one obtained if there is a change of owner.
It mentions holding tanks required… are we talking Grey water as well as black? Anyone know the rules?
Hi Jim, please read the Formalities page -in particular Restrictions – https://noonsite.wccstaging.com/place/turkey/formalities#restrictions-section – this has all the details.
Yes, I’ve read that… that’s the problem: “ Holding tanks are required in Turkey so sort out any holding tank problems. The “Blue Card Scheme” (see reports section and restrictions ) now applies to the whole of Turkey’s coastline, although it is sporadically enforced.”
That’s why I’m asking if it means GREY water also…
Hi Jim, I’ve dug around and checked with contacts in Turkey and all tell me that it’s only a black water tank that is required. It’s also unlikley authorities will come on board to check, however they will check you have a Blue Card to monitor you are actually pumping out at a pump-out station. More info. here https://noonsite.wccstaging.com/place/turkey/formalities#restrictions-section. I hope that helps.
Jim, I have now heard that the Blue Card programme has been discontinued in the Gocek Bay area. It therefore appears that pump out must be done at marinas, but enforcement is spotty.
This posted on Marmaris Bay Cruisers:
“The blue card program is dead, but in some ports, the port captain is collecting your boat’s Fuel, Fresh, Gray, and Black water tank capacities.
Gocek announced that boats without a gray water and black water tank cannot enter any of the bays or anchor in any of the coves.
These boats can transit directly to a marina provided they have a reservation at the marina in advance.
Fines are steep and the Port Captain is enforcing using his boats and his employees. Not too sure what legal authority he has to fine a boat.
Do not desire to be his test case.
There is also some latitude on the inspector saying that you can collect gray water in a black water tank. The regulation requires separate tanks but does acknowledge that many in-use boats were not fitted with the required tanks . A black water tank is a necessity if one is to enter / anchor in many bays and coves, even around Cesme. Ayvanlik’s Port Captain recently posted a notice saying that gray and black water discharges from boats anchored in the bay / coves will result in fines and possibly seizure.
Bodrum’s Port Captain is also enforcing the rules with just dropping by and asking. If he does not like your answers, he suggests that you visit a local yard to have the issue addressed. A friend of mine just rented a 50’ sailboat that has never has a gray water tank. It now does have a gray water pillow tank with a pump to offload the water. When asked, he was told this was to satisfy the Port Capt. He used it for the 7 days he rented the boat. Go figure
Just a reminder, there are country wide rules and regulations”
It seems to be that some things mentioned above redarding the Customs have changed in Turkey.
First of all you do not need a Turkish Health Insurance if you do not have a Residence Permit. If you like to get a Residence Permit, it will be issued for up to two years, but not longer than your Marina contract. Only in this case you have to take on a Turkish Health insurance.
If you would like to appy for a Residence Permit, you do not have to stay more than 245 days / year in Turkey to comply with immigration laws. You can be out of Turkey as long as you like and more that the 120 days / year as mentioned above.
We have arrived in Didim and get help from SkyMarine (agent) for clearance. It was very easy and nobody asked us about the inventory and things on our boat. I can highly recommend SkyMarine (office in Bodrum and Didim). They will assist you with everything, even if you like to apply for a resident permit. But everyone asks for Certificates of Competence. 🙂
Next point: You do not have to put your boat in Customs Bond if you leave your boat in Turkey and travel back home. I have spoken the the Customs and with the Marina Office, there is no such a rule.
Thanks so much Martin for these updates. We’ve worked on getting our formalities updated for Turkey and now have everything current. Do let us know if you find out any other useful info. for those following in your wake.
Boatyards and Chandlers in Marmaris region
There are very mixed or rather general reports about having work done or working yourself on the boat in Turkey. Is there anyone who knows about an overview of places, services and shops or has a direct recommendation?
I am looking for a reasonable yard for engine work. I would like to do some fibreglass work and painting myself, preferably in a place with good access to chandlers / supply shops. Preferably in the Kas / Fethiye / Göcek / Marmaris region.
Thanks a lot, Doen
Doen, check out Marmaris Bay Cruisers – https://cruisingtips.net/mbc/
We have just received the following from Roditis Yachting:
ANNOUNCEMENT ON SEA BORDERS BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY
BORDERS WITH TURKEY ARE NOW OPEN FOR YACHT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES WITH PASSENGERS AS OF 12/8 TO 19/8/21
–
First entrance and arrival of the yacht in Greece is permitted only in the following ports :
Rhodes – Symi – Kos – Kavala
Myrina of Limnos – Mytilene – Kalymnos
Chios – Scala of Patmos
Samos ( Vathi and Pythagorio )
Agia Marina of Leros
HEALTH PROTOCOLS
–
Notice prior to arrival must be given to the Port Treasury of the visiting port minimum 6 hours prior to arrival and all passengers or crew on board should have with them:
– A vaccination certificate issued by a certified authority.
If the passengers are not Vaccinated we need:
– A negative PCR COVID-19 test result from a laboratory; the test must be taken up to 72 hours before entry in Greece, or
– A negative antigen (rapid) result from a laboratory; the test must be taken up to 48 hours before entry, or
– A certificate of recovery from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory, or
– Proof that the traveller was tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 2 to 9 months. This can be proved either by presenting a positive PCR molecular or an antigen test result performed by an authorized laboratory or a medical certificate confirming that the holder was tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, or
– The EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate or a Covid-19 Certificate from a third country, in either printed or electronic form, which includes information related to their vaccination, or the result of their PCR or rapid test taken before travelling, or the details about their Covid-19 infection.
NATIONALITIES
On board the yacht besides the crew members, passengers residents of EU Member States and Schengen associated countries (Andorra, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican, the Principality of Monaco), the USA, the UK, Serbia, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the Russian Federation, Israel, Canada, North Macedonia, Ukraine, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Belarus, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Japan, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Jordan, Moldova, Brunei, Kosovo and Turkey may ENTER and visit Greece for pleasure, provided they can fulfill the general entry requirements.
Dimitris Kastis (Roditis Yachting)
+30 6937005447
I am looking to winter my catamaran on the hard beginning November. I also need some interior carpentry/cabinet work done. I have narrowed down to Greece or Turkey. Looking for any comments and or suggestions. Quality of the work is important to me as is of course reasonable price. Thanks
Update to Turkey Covid Restrictions of 30 Dec 2020 – yachts entering Turkey are required to have negative PCR test for all that were taken less than 72 hours before ARRIVAL in Turkey. Failing that, a 7 day quarantine is required. We just arrived from Italy after a 5 day uninterrupted passage. We had Covid tests 12 hours prior to departure from Italy which were rejected as “too old” by authorities. They will not even reduce quarantine period by passage time.
Looking for comments on the best marina options for storing a sailboat on the hard (leaving the country) in the Marmaris area for winter 2020-21
Try Marmaris Bay Cruisers – see https://noonsite.wccstaging.com/place/turkey/general-info#links-section – great source of local info. for the Marmaris area.
We kept our American flagged sailboat in Marmaris (3 yrs) and Kusadasi (1 yr) 20015-2019 for a pleasant issue-free period of coastal cruising, but things were, unbeknownst to us, changing.
“Captain’s License”
When we tried to check out of Kusadasi in May 2019, we were prevented from leaving for lack of a “Captain’s License”. We discovered a three hour, on-line course to obtain a Canadian “Pleasure Craft Operator Card” by passing an on-line exam. The temporary print-out certificate satisfied the authorities and we were on our way.
Courtesy Flag
It should be noted that Turkey is a young nation, and national pride is at a level that Westerners find hard to comprehend. One spring morning we were motoring out of Bozburun Harbor when a coast guard patrol boat began shadowing us, finally approaching and signaling us to slow down. Expecting the usually heavy booted boarding party, we cut the engine and starting deploying fenders, but as the patrol boat pulled alongside, a smiling young man pointed up at our sun faded Turkish courtesy flag, and passed us a new one. The patrol crew then waved a cordial farewell, eased off our beam, and sped away.
Hello,
May be buying a cat in turkey and sailing back would you have the web address to the school you took to satisfy the (captains License ) requirement to leave turkey.
Thank You: Allen
From Finike to Ayvalik and back in three months
We sailed from Cyprus to Kastelorizo in Greece in June 2019 but due to lack of a International Certificate of Competence we were not allowed to stay so we sailed back to Cyprus. There we got an RYA Day Skipper certificate which has enabled us to get an ICC. But we didn’t want to go Greece anymore so we got visas for Turkey and arrived at the beginning of July in Finike Marina.
We have a small boat of 10m and no holding tank for black water.
We had contacted an agent in Finike about it but all we heard was: “Buy a Blue Card and you will be fine” What we had was a PortaPotty with a tank capacity of 15-20 liters. Would the authorities/marinas accept that?
We found out that it is absolutely no problem and all marinas allow you to use the Marina toilets to discharge your tank. You have to pay for that, between 6-10 euros. You can also use a public toilet for discharge and notify the harbormaster or the Marina and get it added to your card.. In the Gulf of Gocek you can call the “poo- boat” (+90 5428068249) on WhatsApp and give your position and they come alongside, even for a PortaPotty.
We have tried to discharge every 14 -21 days and that is doable and accepted by the authorities.
That problem out of the way we were in awe of the high quality of Marinas in Turkey and of how expensive they were. Just for a few nights was OK for us so we spent 75% of the time at anchor, often with a line ashore.
The water was not potable in the marinas so we were forced to buy 20 litre containers as we don’t have a watermaker.
We were also in awe how lovely the people were in Turkey. The Marina staff were very helpful and our fellow sailors were keen to explain local cuisine or places to go or just talk boats…and people who had nothing to do with sailing were as lovely as everybody else. We loved the low key life in Turkey but we don’t like the political system. Travelling around the world we find “local knowledge” to be very useful and saving us time, trouble and money. And we got a lot of local knowledge, talking to the Turks.
From Finike we sailed quickly north, mostly at night as the wind is down a lot then, and we turned around in Ayvalik, which is a lovely market town. Then we sailed slowly south but there was still lots of wind from the Meltimi (August) and at times too much. You just have to wait it out and start early in the day.
We don’t have a long anchor chain, maybe 150 feet, and many anchorages were to deep for us. Sometimes you can be lucky and find a mooring as we did in Gocek Bay and Bodrum.
Although we cook aboard most of the time, my husband is a chef after all, we did enjoy some excellent meals ashore, but the wine was just too expensive. Knowing that before we arrived we had brought a lot from Cyprus to drink aboard.
Most people speak English so we only had to learn a few words of Turkish.
All in all we had a very pleasant three months in Turkey and maybe one day we will be back if a hard Brexit prevents my husband staying more than 90 days in the EU.
My husband loves fishing but only caught 2 fish big enough to eat.
We are now in the beautiful Greek island of Crete and having a swell time till we sail on and explore the rest of the country. Καλό ταξίδι! Bon voyage!
Tony and Karin on “The Amber Nectar”
Reported by Roland Duffell:
I was wondering if you have heard anything about boat ownership.
When there are 4 owners of a yacht in a boat share.
We have recently heard in Fethiye from transit log agents that new Turkish rules will only allow 3 owners maximum to a yacht now.
It had been a maximum of 4 owners, but now we have been told that this is changing to 3.
How can they just take a member of a syndicate off.
If the fourth member uses the boat they will charge a fee of €600 every time they use the boat.
Could you please pass this on.
Any more information about this rule about number of owners of Foregin owned boats in Turkey?
DeDanann:
We have spent the last two years 17/18 cruising Turkey from Bodrum to Finike. We cruise from end of March to end of November, our experience is very good, friendly people and all very peaceful. Food and mooring is not expensive by EU standards, however, the marina’s, which are fantastic, are ferociously expensive and half empty which makes them soulless places to stay. That said, there are many nice anchorages for free and town quays were charges are most reasonable, the restaurant pontoons are generally free if to eat lunch or dinner there, the food is very good generally.
It’s a good place to have boat works done for reasonable money, we found them very efficient and good at what they do, the trick is to avoid paying out too much money up front and hold a decent balance until the works are complete, their tough horse traders who negotiate hard.
Checking in and out is easy if you engage a Turkish agent, you can also avail of duty free booze and tobacco on the way out.
There is a lot of negative talk about holding tanks and fines etc, we had no problems, just have the mandatory blue card stamped once a month whenever near the far and few pump out stations just in case.
Finally, don’t leave Turkey without a visit to a Turkish bath, its a wonderful experience, there’s nothing sleazy about these establishments, they are very well run.
Enjoy.
I renewed my transit log in Eski Foca in August and had not experience this. I had heard rumors about this. I tried to nail down the laws in question but to no avail. Lee onboard LeeZe Üçkuyular, Izmir Turkey
***Further UPDATE on the 185 day Turkey customs issue 26/10/2018 ***
Further to my last update, I am sorry to say that although we were told the issues had been cleared up…. They haven’t!!
Many foreign flagged boats where the registered owners are living in Turkey are still being refused entry! We are now told that there needs to be a change in the law, which means that this wasn’t a misinterpretation at all!
Didim & Kusadasi are the last ports we have heard have been refusing entry, and according to agents more ports have also been informed!
***UPDATE on the 185 day Turkey customs issue ***
Following a meeting in Istanbul between leading customs officials, members of the CA, the Turkish Tourism association & marina managers, it has been confirmed that the information used to deny us entry into Turkey without Kejstral was a misinterpretation of a regulation that is meant for land vehicles.
This has now been cleared up and all ports along the Turkish coast have been informed.
The correct regulation states that a foreign flagged boat may stay in Turkey for up to 5 years, as long as the owner uses the boat once every 2 years. If the owner takes the boat out of Turkey the clock is reset and can remain for a further 5 years.
I would like to thank Tuncay Ozses (Kas Marina manager) for all his help & assistance in the correcting of this misunderstanding, without him and the Didim marina manager this would never have been resolved!
Please read this, it may concern you or sailors you may know!
A few days ago we sailed from Kalymnos to Didim with the intention of checking back into Turkey.
We moored in the marina and headed for the Harbour Master, who entered our transit log details onto the system and then stamped our paperwork.
From here we were sent to the Port Police who immediately stamped our passports and then on to Customs. This is where our whole world was turned upside down!!!
Initially all seemed ok, but then faces began to take on a serious look and phone calls began to be made. The room now began to fill up with everyone from customs officers, Port Police, shipping agents and the Harbour Master.
Something was wrong, we could feel it !!!
Atilla the agent then began to try and explain what was going on, and it all revolved around the boat being Foreign flagged!
Customs head office were under the impression that being foreign flagged, we, as owners must spend at least 185 days out of Turkey within a 12 month period before we are allowed to bring Kejstral back in!
Neither ourselves, the Port Police, the agent or the Marina manager (yes he had joined the party now too) had ever come across this regulation!
More phone calls and more discussion culminated in customs informing us we had to leave immediately and go back to Greece!
We have Turkish residency and a Turkish marina contract, but none of this was taken into account, and we were forced to leave!!
It is now 4.45pm, there is 28 knots blowing from the NW, the sea state is awful and we have to make our way to the nearest Greek anchorage before dark! We didn’t make it to Xerokambos in Leros until 8.45pm and had to drop the hook in total darkness.
We have since been in contact with various ports along the Turkish coast, and everyone has been informed by Didim to refuse us entry ?
Kejstral has now been forced to take shelter in Leros marina, where we have had no option but to take out a 12 month contract.
We never spend 185 days out of Turkey as we live there, so on this ruling we will never again be able to enter Turkey with the boat….. Stupid!!!!
We are told by a few that this has been a miss interpretation of the rule and will be resolved soon…… I won’t hold my breath!!!
14 June 2018. Anchored in Western side of Ucagiz Limani in the bay about 5 minutes dingy ride from the main harbour (36° 11.625′ N, 029° 50.589′ E) Went ashore to dinner at Hassan (good restaurant). Upon returning to the yacht +/-2200 found that the boat had been broke into. Two forward hatches were forced open breaking the Lewmar locking mechanisms. For reasons unknown nothing was taken, perhaps they were disturbed. We had been advised by another British boat the day before that they thought their yacht had been entered when they were in this area but surprisingly to them nothing of value had been taken. As a precaution we had placed all items of value out of sight. Trying to make a report to the local Coast guard but there is a general lack of interest. Sad to say this is a yacht break-in risk area!
FOREIGN YACHTS IN TURKEY – THINGS ARE QUIET….
From an e-mail sent by Gwen Bylund (SSCA), based in Turkey.
In general, in the Marmaris area and along the coast, “things” are quiet. It’s not because it’s winter but as a result of yachtsmen/women leaving Turkey over the past few years. In brief, marinas raised mooring and other fees, the government raised the prices of the transit log and visas/resident permits, and local chandleries/industrial areas have also raised their prices.
Keep in mind that some marinas have more vacant slips than they do have occupied slips. At the moment, Yat Marina in Marmaris Bay does have fewer slips since boat owners have an annual habit of leaving the area (and sailing): The owners leave for home (UK, Europe, Russia and Scandinavia) about the end of October, to return the end of April (7-8 months). Netsel Marina has moved any remaining boats to 2 pontoons only. Netsel says they can accommodate 1,000 boats, but there’s too many slips unoccupied, especially the larger yacht moorings and on the hard standing places.
On the hard standing, the fee is 30% more than the mooring fee. The first 10 days on hard standing are complimentary but IF one wants more time, those ten days are added on to the additional days so you don’t actually have the first 10 days complimentary.
The Blue card is still in effect. It is to be purchased upon check-in to Turkey. It doesn’t expire. There is a fee for the card. Since fees rise constantly here (one reason why people leave!), the most recent price I could find was 25 TL.
Anyone here (women, children, men, yachtsmen/women and foreigners alike) require Turkish offered health insurance. This is calculated: single person, couple, entire family TL 480 per month. If anyone is over 65 years of age there is private company insurance available. Under 65 there is the state insurance at 480 Tl per month. Even if yachtsmen/women, et al have international health insurance they must still take on the Turkish insurance. This expenditure is another reason people leave Turkey.
Hi all,
I am looking at a boat that has a portable toilet – like a portapotty or similar – how would that go in Turkey re. blue cards and the like? tia
I know it is a 2 years old comment but I wanted to reply. You need to change the list in transit log if you are sailing with your guests. They are all considered as crew. I went sailing on US flagged boat with my family (we are all owners of the boat.) and the coast guard said we have to change the transit log. Turkish owners of US flagged boats don’t do that because it is usually not checked.
We were lucky because the coast guard personnel was understanding but I am sure there is a fine if the people on board are different from the transit log.
Posted on Cruisers Forum – 29 July 2017
I have just completed 3 months cruising in Turkey, having bought my boat there in December.
The Antalya agent who set up my transit log charged me €400 (yes Euro, not Lira) because “boat had the new owner”.
When I left Datca yesterday, the agent there claimed there was a stamp missing on the paperwork, so I must pay a penalty of €200 plus his fees. When I asked for a receipt I was told it would take time and I would have to stay longer.
So €625 in fees.
At the same time as going through the exit procedure, the local harbour police started hassling me, forcing me to buy a new Turkish flag (old one was ok but had a minor fray). I suspect in cahoots with the agent so I didn’t challenge the “penalty”.
If this expense wasn’t a scam, then the fees are shocking.
By comparison, I entered Greece in Symi, did all clearances myself in less than an hour, total costs €45, and really helpful and friendly immigration staff and harbour police.
The Coast Guard issued (us with) a fine for the absence of the Blue Card. The Blue Card was not issued by our agent who did our CHECK-IN and TRANSIT LOG in Istanbul for $500.
Ayvalik Setur Marina
In 2016 in June we stayed for 2 nights at a cost of 278TL.
In 2017 in June for 2 nights, the price has gone up to 448TL, an increase of about 60%.
It seems that more the Turkish economy suffers the higher the prices are!
We would like to express our satisfaction with the complete refit and painting delivered by MAVIMAR YACHTING in Marmaris. Since coming onto the project, Mavimar’s team has carried out incredible energy into ensuring that the project runs smoothly. We will definitely work with them again in a future project.
Wow, Amaroo, that’s awful. We feel fortunate because we similarly left our boat in a Setur marina (Kas) in Turkey in the winter of 2015/2016 and didn’t pump out between October and April and didn’t have a problem when we did (but we did our last and first pumpouts at the marina, which perhaps made the difference.
Also, we were never boarded by the coast guard as you were. We sailed up and down the Aegean, Lycian and Turquoise coasts of Turkey in the spring of 2016, pumping out every few weeks, but probably not more often that 3-4 and had no problems. So sorry for your bad luck and that astronomical fine. Ugh!
“Boat owners also have to use the Blue card at least once a year or be fined”
YACHTS IN TURKISH WATERS BEWARE AS A ONCE A YEAR PUMP/BLUE CARD USAGE IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT ONCE A YEAR USE OF BLUE CARD DOES NOT APPLY. REGULAR BOATS IN THE AREA OF DATCA HAVE THEIR BLUE CARD SCANNED AT A FACILITY NO LESS THAN ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. ACCORDING TO DATCA COAST GUARD BLACK/GREY WATER USAGE IS DEEMED AT 30 LTR PER PERSON PER DAY. PERHAPS OTHER AREAS ARE NOT AS STRINGENT BUT DATCA AUTHORITIES ARE NOT FLEXIBLE WITH THIS.
Boat owners are responsible for maintaining the necessary official paperwork for any country they visit. Particularly important when leaving the boat behind in a country whilst you travel abroad is documented renewal should the paperwork expire while you are out of the country.
For instance, every 5 years a foreign flagged vessel must check out of Turkish waters and then check back in if they wish to stay in Turkey. Boat owners also have to use the Blue card at least once a year or be fined. Note too that the transit log expires annually and cannot be renewed unless the blue card has been used. A number of liveaboards in Turkey have offered the following advice:
– If a boat does not have a holding tank a friendly marina will just run the blue card through the system and no problems (this is not widely known…). Some people take a bag of rubbish and show it to the marina management.
– Using an agent can help a great deal with keeping your Turkish paperwork in order, up to date and avoiding fines. The key in Turkey is not letting your paperwork expire.
– If someone has an agent (to check in and out of Turkey, renew all documentation from the boat owner), then the agent takes care of this blue card thing.
WARNING TO ALL YACHTS IN TURKEY!!!
We pumped out in Antalya on arrival last year, September, and left the marina, and Turkey, the next day for 7 months overseas. Our vessel was on the hardstand the entire time we were away. When we returned to Antalya, we anti-fouled and launched the boat, sailing from Antalya to the Datca area in June.
We have exceedingly large tanks that can hold for several weeks before needing to pump out. We proceeded to Datca to pump out but they did not have the correct fittings at their facility to perform a pumpout. We were told to come back in a week and it should be ok to pump out then. We still had enough room in tanks, approximately 85% full since leaving Antalya in June. We were grateful that we had large tanks. Amazingly, in all the travels we have had in Turkey, it is very rare to see any sizable vessel pumping out on shore anywhere.
The day before we were due to return to Datca to pump out, or attempt to pump out, the Coast Guard visited the anchorage, 10 NM east of Datca, and looked at our paperwork. As we had not pumped out since September, it appears they felt we must have pumped out somewhere other than at a designated facility. They did not take into account the boat was unattended on the hardstand in Antalya for 7 months. We subsequently acquired a letter from Setur Marina Antalya confirming this but Coast Guard officials were not interested in seeing the letter or hearing anything about it. We were told that it is deemed that the usage per person per day for waste water is 30 litres. That means they considered that we have 60 liters per day going into our tanks. That is absurd. The Coast Guard informed us that we should be pumping out EVERY 2 WEEKS!
In Datca we were told that we would not be authorized to leave Turkey without paying the fine. We paid to the tax office 9,500.25 TL!! Paying within 30 days gave us a 25% discount on the fine which was 12,267.00 TL ($4,100.00 USD)!!
We enquired about appealing the decision but were told by all we spoke to that no-one has ever been successful in appealing, regardless of the facts or proof of any kind that can prove nothing was done wrong. We enquired at Customs, Datca, regarding the appeals process and they would not inform us where to start apart from saying “Go see your agent”. Our agent, the biggest in Datca, said it was a waste of time and money to even try.
We do not understand the paperwork as it is in Turkish. I refused to sign as I did not know the contents. The paperwork was written on the deck of a gulet anchored in the same bay on 11th July at 1430 hrs, which, according to the paperwork they presented was when the offense occurred, but we are not sure. The officials were told our tanks were just over just over 85% full at that time and I offered to show them but they were not interested. I informed the officials that we tried to pump out in Datca and was informed by the official that “It is not our problem!” We have subsequently found out that the Datca pump out facility has been inoperative for a long time. Therefore, perhaps, virtually all the boats in Datca may be contravening the laws.
BEWARE IF YOU PLAN TO VISIT TURKEY. MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR BLUE CARD SCANNED EVERY 2 WEEKS OR PAY A HEFTY FINE.
March 29, 2016 Travel WARNING(Not an Alert) was issued US State Department–This is for Izmir and Mugla provinces on the western coast most popular with yachts and previously considered not to be in a (too)risky area. The US Government is ordering the forced evacuation of all family members of US Government civilians in those provinces.
Also, they have “restricted official travel to Turkey to ‘mission-critical’ travel only”. The Warning is here https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/turkey-travel-warning.html
This comment from a long-term liveaboard/cruiser based in Marmaris.
Where have all the cruising boats wintered in Turkey gone?
In the past 8 years at least, during autumn, winter, and spring, the marinas in Marmaris have been full of 45-60 yachtsmen/women staying in Marmaris full time. This population, of course, is great for social activities and an interesting blend of personalities and cultures in the yachting community.
This year, however, the yachting community population is so low that it’s a struggle to get 8-10 persons together for any kind of activity or get-together. I’ve never seen so few people in Marmaris Bay!
More yachts appear to be berthing for the winter in Finike, which is much further south of the usual and popular cruising area of this part Turkey, and many are leaving for winter in Greece, Malta, Crete and other Mediterranean ports.
From emails, I have received and face-to-face conversations with departing cruisers, possible reasons for this exodus may be:
1) An increase in marina charges (mooring, lift and launch, electricity, etc.) not only in Marmaris Bay but in Turkey in general.
2) Fear of political instability (although this hasn’t had an effect on Marmaris and other northern/western ports and communities).
3) Changes in residence permits (1 year vs 5 years, application procedures etc.), plus local and governmental health insurance fees rising and their non-recognition of international health care companies.
About the only positive thing about Turkey reported to me by foreign cruisers is the favourable exchange rate of the GBP and USD (1 USD at today’s rate is 2.98 Turkish Lira and 1 GBP over 4 Turkish Lira).
The general rule of thumb when cruising is to get 3 quotes for any service or product before paying any money.
Transit Log: Regardless of what an agent tells you, you ONLY have to amend your transit log when you add or subtract CREW or CAPTAIN. If you have GUESTS coming, their names are NOT required to be on the transit log. If you are in Marmaris and using Ankar Agency for help, she will tell you differently.
But she is wrong. Read the rules in English associated with the transit log. It never mentions the word “guests.” If this was required, every Turkish owner of an American flagged boat would be updating his transit log every weekend. And they are NOT! So do not be fooled into doing so. The agents that tell you this are just trying to line their pockets with your money.
On my way from Finike to Fethiye my alternator and/or my regulator stopped working and in Fethiye I was recommended an English engineer for repairs. When I phoned him he said, I will send my electrical engineer, but in fact sent someone from another company, who came and removed my alternator and regulator.
Next day he returned saying that they had bought a new one as the other would cost nearly as much to repair. Stupidly – I must have been mesmerised – when he said ‘you don’t want that old one?’, I said no. That’s not like me!
Next day I found that the new alternator was very inefficient and as I had since been told by my son that my Mastervolt alternator and Alpha-pro regulator were expensive and should be repaired and reinstalled, I asked the engineer to return them. When he did this we saw at once that the alternator he brought was not mine, this one had obviously been underwater for a considerable time.
To me, it seems the two are running a scam to not repair broken parts, claiming it would cost too much, selling the cruiser a new piece of kit and not returning the old one (i.e. refurbishing it and selling it on).
I want to warn other cruisers that this kind of thing is happening here and to take care.
Bluewatersailor
Checking into turkey
The cost at Datca Seher Tours it 280 TL and if you require them to supply a Visa EU boats it 25 euro. sehertour@hotmail.com
Bozburun, lodos yachting 105 Euros
Hope this help.
Checking in and out of Tukey and exchanging crew and skippers- no problem. I came to Istambul with the crew, we made crew exchange- only needed an agreement signed by both skippers, that we exchange crew there, and confirmation from the charter agency, that they know it.
We had to purchase new transit log, that’s obvious. Check out was made in Ayvalik- highly recommend! With no agent and problems, You just need to take a walk to the ferry terminal to do the clearance, and back to harbourmaster, which is close to the marina. I’ll mention that yacht was Greek flag, I expected some turbulence, but was nicely surprised:)
We purchased the US registered Farr 50PH in September ’14. The boat was in Didim at D-Marin marina where we left her after a quick shakedown cruise. We are secured with YachtWORKS who are resolving a number of issues we discovered on the shakedown. Our experience with Can (John) the owner of YachtWORKShas been extremely good. They are professional and the pricing reasonable for the work to date…particularly a new epoxy barrier coat system.
The marina is the best ive seen with travel lifts to 600 tons albeit 4500€ for the Winter including lift. Our survey experience was also exceptional with Yusuf Civelekoglu of Marine Solutions in Bodrum. Our short time in Turkey allowed is to sail onto the North side of the Datca peninsula which was a wonderful opening into Turkey. Landside a trip to Effes is not to be missed along with Didima. New to posting here so…more in the Spring of 2015
Some Australian friends that had their boat shipped to Istanbul, and whose 90-day visa expires August 25, were told that it was absolutely impossible to get a residence permit, or even an appointment to see about a residence permit, before August 25.
They wrote to me and said that they would be wintering in Greece as a result.
I just spoke with Samet, an agent here in Finike, that I’ve known for about five years, and he said that it used to be difficult, but recently it is very easy. There is no longer a requirement for a Marina contract or Turkish bank account. The only requirement is that you have health insurance, and if it is from another country, it must be international health insurance, that will cover you while you are here. And that needs to be translated into English. You will need some photos and other miscellaneous.
He says that if anyone wants to contact him, that he will be happy to help. : info@finikeyachting.com
If people will contact him he will help them to get it done in Kemer. N36.60120 E30.54262 (There are several Kemers.) He says it usually takes one day. It is now very easy.
I have no idea what his fees are, but he is a really nice man that has helped me many times over the years.
I know there is still a mountain of confusion about this, but Samet, felt that it was no longer difficult, if you had the translation of the correct kind of insurance. In my American case, my very inexpensive supplemental insurance, that is a supplement to standard Medicare, claims that it will cover me for emergency rooms here, at a maximum charge of US$50.00, and a medevac will cost me a maximum of US$500.00. But read your fine print. Mine actually sounds too good to be true. Best idea is to never need it.
And, it would be good if people can relay their actual, first-hand experiences, on this subject. So many of the emails seem to be rumors. And the most popular rumours are the ones that make your eyes get big, and your blood pressure boil. So, be careful what you forward.
Dave
If you want a reliable maintenance company to handle all your boat needs in or around Marmaris we highly recommend Mavimar, owned by Ercan Erkut, former naval officer,yacht builder and restorer. We have had Ercan oversee our winter work for the last 5 years on our 14 meter sailboat. We’ve had our boat entirely painted, electrical, plumbing, canvas and many other jobs completed ontime, at the agreed price and to our complete satisfaction. His office is located on the street opposite the tennis courts behind Netsel Marina. http://www.mavimar.com
Checking out of Turkey at Bodrum: We just checked out of Turkey at Bodrum. We were told that we would need an agent, but when we asked the Harbor Master he said as we only had two people on board, we did not need an agent. We did contact our agent in Marmaris, Nadide, who entered our info ‘into the system’ for no charge. We first visited the Harbor Master, then the Port Police (Passport Control), and finally Customs. No cost and about one hour–all three offices are right near the castle and are within walking distance. Nadide at Anker Marine, Marmaris, will answer any questions and she was a great help.