Cruising the Meds

Copyright: OVER-THE-OCEANS

Cruising the Mediterranean Sea on a sailing yacht.

Many cruisers around the world dreaming of cruising in the Mediterranean Sea. Every summer the Mediterranen Sea gets busy, with full time cruisers, charter boats, super yachts, and yacht owners that take their boats out of the winter storage for some summer fun on the water.

The Meds are a fantastic cruising ground with lots of historical sites, touristic hot spots, delicious cuisine, great beaches, excellent marinas, protected anchorages, good night life and much more. The Mediterranean region is cultural mix and rich on history. Twenty-one countries, out of three continents enclose the Mediterranean basin. There is so much to discover.

Best time to be cruising in the Meds is the summer time, where the climate is hot and dry most of the time. In the summer winds are light to moderate, or none existent, with afternoon breezes, and frequent changes in directions. Motoring is very common for most boaters during this time of the year. Season start is May and ends in September. High season is June, July and August. Anchorages get busy, Marinas fill up and are getting expensive. Budget cruiser spend thier time on anchor.

Winter is in most parts of the Meds is mild and wet, with the exception of Spain and Africa where the wetter is mostly dry during the winter month. The weather changes towards winter. Intense storms and high winds are more often now.  Over 50 knots of winds are not uncommon is some areas. More often now, a Medicane can form, with winds of a category 1 hurricane strength, and cost lots of damage along its pass.

Full time cruisers staying in the Meds are looking now for a Marina to stay for the wintertime. Most marinas offer winter rates from October to end of April. It is good to make some arrangements ahead of time.

We are European citizen, with a sailing vessel registered in the EU, cruising in the Meds.  Sounds simple. Cruising within the water of the EU should be no problem. But still there is a lot to be concerned about. Like what about the countries that are in the EU but not in the Schengen Agreement like Croatia? But even within the EU countries there are different regulations. Some require cruising permits, others do not. And the ones that require permits, do this all in different ways.

We are planing of keeping the boat cruising in the Meds for the next 5-8 years. Time to check the cruising grounds and what to look for. In order to make a plan, we are looking into the kind of regulation every single country is having.

All states require a good set of safety equipment on board. Some countries require little more, other little less.
 
In general required in most countries:

Skipper / Crew

- Skipper license.  International Certificate of Competence. As required from state of registration.
  (Except Croatia. Croatia requires ICC License - Germans international SBF See license is legal)
- License VHF - Radio Short Range License
- Crew list
- Passports

Boat Registration

- Boat registration
- Liability insurance
- Proof of ownership or authorization of the boat owner
- VAT Proof for vessel commissioned after 01.01.1985
- CE certification for vessels build commissioned after 06.1998

Boat Equipment

Boat should be adequately equipped for all events and safety issues.

- Safety equipment for boat and crew
- Navigation equipment / charts
- Life jacket for every person on board
- First-aid kit
- Anchor with chain
- Cleats / Bollards
- Three mooring lines of adequate length and strength
- Bilge pump
- Tools for maintenance
- Adequate spare parts for the safe operation of the technical equipment
- Positions lights and tag signals
- Waterproof lamp
- Waste container
- Facilities for collecting and storing oil and oily water


PORTUGAL:

Phone: +351
Emergency Numer 112
MRCC Lisboa +351 21 440 19 19
VHF 16 + 70

EU Member
Schengen State

Special:
No charge is due to use coastal waters.


SPAIN:

Phone +34
Emergency Number 112
MRCC Madrid +34 91 755 9132
VHF 16 + 70

EU Member
Schengen State

Special:
Tasa por Servicio Senalizacion Maritima (lighthouse and navaids tax)
Boats over 7 meter pay one time - 10 Euros per Square Meters


FRANCE:

Phone +33
Emergency Number 112
or for mobile phone +33 196
MRCC La Garde +33 4 94 61 16 16
VHF 16

EU Member
Schengen State

Special:
The use of the waterways are subject to a charge, for boats over 5 meter in length.
No charge is due on French coastal waters.


ITALY:

Phone +39
Emergency Number 112
Guardia Costiera Number 1530
MRCC Roma +39 0659084409
VHF 16 + 70

EU Member
Schengen State

Special:
All public waters in Italy are released for pleasure boating. No charge is due.
In the Lagoon of Venice local license plates must be purchased.


MALTA:

Phone: +356
Emergency Number 112
Malta Radio: +356 21 25 72 67

EU Member
Schengen State

Special:
Call two hours before arrival port is mandatory. Malta VTS (Malta Coastal Station) or
Valletta Vessel Traffic Services via channel 12.


SLOVENIA:

Phone: +386
Emergency Number: 112
MRCC: +386 56632108
VHF 16 + 70

EU Member
Schengen State


CROATIA:

Phone +385
Emergency Number 112
MRCC +385 51195
Emergency Sea + 385 996 112 112
Sea Tow +385 99 222 8000
VHF 16 + 70

EU Member
Schengen State

The owner or user of a foreign vessel must register their stay or navigation to the nearest harbour authority or harbour authority branch office to regulate their required safety of navigation and pollution protection fee during their period of stay or navigation in Croatian territorial waters.

Cruising permit & Sojoran Tax (Tourist Tax)

Sojouran Tax - Tourist Tax:
Payable at harbormaster office or online: https://nautika.evisitor.hr/

Cruising permit:
Reg. fee; Ship cruising fee € x length + € x kilowatts engine;
Information card ; Lighthouse fee € x length
The website eNautika (eVessel https://enautika.pomorstvo.hr/#/public/dashboard)
offers the possibility of calculating the safety of navigation and pollution protection fee.

Good cruising times: May - Oct
Peak time: July - August

Parts of the Croatian coastal waters are particularly protected. There are special
rules for anchoring and overnight stays. National Parks are specially protected.

More helpful nautical information for cruisers:  https://croatia.hr/en-gb/nautical


MONTENEGRO:

Phone: +382
Emergency Number: 112
MRCC Bar: +382 30 31 30 88
Mobil: +382 67 64 21 79
VHF 16 + 70

No Schengen State

Special:

Ships most register at nearest
PORT OF ENTRY.

Cruising tax
To cruise the Montenegrin waters a vignette is required.
(Period of stay; length of boat; plus
lighthouse tax and registration)

When leaving the port office must first be cleared out.


GREECE:

Phone +30
Emergency Number: 112
Olympia Radio +30 210 600 1799
Piraeus Coastguard JRCC +30 210 411 2500
VHF 16 + 30 call sign Hellenic Coast Guard; Olympia Radio
MMSI: Olympia Radio 00237 1000
MMSI: Piraeus Coastguard JRCC 237 673 000

EU Member
Schengen State

Special:
Pleasure craft with a total of over 7 meter must be equipped with a
Deltio Kinissis DE.K.P.A. (private pleasure yacht maritime traffic document)
The document is issued by the port authority of the port, which is being called
in Greece for the first time. DE.K.P.A. Document 50.00 Euro p.a.

Entry and exit fee. 15 Euro entry. 5 Euros exit.

TE.P.AI. Depending on boats length.
Example: 10-12 meter yacht. 33.00 Euro per month or 386.00 Euro per year.


TURKEY:

Phone +90
Emergency Number 112
MRCC Izmir +90 232 365 6825
VHF 16

No Schengen State

Special:
Ships must register at the nearest PORT OF ENTRY


CYPRUS:

Phone +357
JRCC Larnaca +357 2464 3005

EU Member but
No Schengen State

Special:
Karpaz Gate Marina is PORT OF ENTRY
and has duty free status. There is no time limit to EU and non EU yachts
for the length of stay.
South part is Cyprus Rep. North Cyprus is Turkish territory.