Greece regulates fast boats and water sports through General Port Regulation No. 20, which applies in the waters of every port authority. It's the rule a surveyor meets on Greek RIBs, speedboats and jet skis, private or hired. ICOMIA notes that in Greece all boats must be registered whatever their length.
What counts as a fast boat
Article 2: any private or hired motorboat that carries an outboard "πάνω από 25 ίππους", over 25 hp; or is a speedboat or inflatable with an outboard over 10 hp; or "μπορεί να αναπτύξει ταχύτητα μεγαλύτερη από δέκα πέντε (15) κόμβους", can exceed 15 knots, whatever its engine.
Operator and owner obligations
Licence. A fast boat operator's licence after a written and practical exam. Licences issued or recognised by other countries' authorities, and those from EU or EEA states other than Switzerland, are accepted. Licences remain valid to age 65, then renew every three years on a medical certificate.
Operators, article 4, carry the sailing permit and licence, and "φέρουν επί του σκάφους τα προβλεπόμενα για την κατηγορία του εφόδια": carry the safety and firefighting equipment required for the boat's category, all ready for immediate use and none past its expiry date. No one may stand or sit on the gunwale, and no one aboard who can't swim.
Owners, article 5, keep the boat maintained, mark its name, port and registration number on both sides, hold a renewed sailing permit from the port authority, equip it for its category, and have it inspected as the rules require.
Distances and speed
Article 4 bans fast boats:
- within 100 m of the buoys marking a bathing area;
- within 200 m of where swimmers usually reach, where there are no buoys;
- above 5 knots within 200 m of the shore elsewhere.
Hired fast boats may not go out in bad weather, before sunrise or after sunset, or with engine faults.
Jet skis
Article 10: jet skis are registered, carry their name, port and number on both sides, and carry the flares and extinguishers the maker specifies, or otherwise two hand flares, one smoke signal and one small powder extinguisher. They may not run without a quick-stop, in bad weather, before sunrise or after sunset, or with riders without lifejackets.
Citing it in a finding
"Hand flares past their expiry date; equipment must be in date under Greek General Port Regulation 20, article 4." For larger private yachts and professional charter yachts, equipment and inspection follow the Greek rules for those vessel types, which this regulation doesn't cover.