Nea Peramos: sailing boat detained over illegal chartering

The Megara Port Authority banned a Polish-flagged sailing boat from sailing, following an inspection carried out on the morning of Friday, 14 August 2026 at the port of Nea Peramos, Attica. Officers from the Security Department of the Central Port Authority of Elefsina and the 3rd Megara Port Police Station took part in the inspection. During the check, illegal chartering was found, meaning the boat was carrying out commercial passenger transport without the required licence, in violation of Law 4926 of 2022. The inspection is part of the targeted operations that intensify during the summer season.

Beyond the sailing ban, administrative sanction proceedings were launched. In practice, the boat remains held at the port until the fine is paid or an equivalent guarantee is deposited, a measure applied so that a foreign-flagged vessel cannot sail away before the case is settled. The same legislation regulates the framework for commercial pleasure boats and establishes the electronic registry, through which port authorities can cross-check whether a vessel has been declared as commercial and whether the specific charter agreement has been registered. Passengers on a boat carrying out illegal chartering are not covered by the mandatory third-party liability insurance that applies to commercial pleasure boats, leaving them exposed in the event of an incident.

Illegal chartering is among the most common violations found at Greek ports during the summer months. The phenomenon mainly involves privately used boats that carry out day trips or transport passengers for a fee, without meeting the safety standards, crew requirements and insurance coverage that apply to commercial vessels. Beyond the issue of unfair competition against legitimate professionals, the key stake is the safety of those on board in the event of an accident. The electronic registry of pleasure boats now allows immediate cross-checking of data during an inspection, reducing the time required in the field.

Nea Peramos lies in the Gulf of Megara and is a reference point for coastal tourism in western Attica, with increased pleasure boat traffic in August. Checks have intensified in the wider Saronic Gulf recently, with a series of incidents recorded in Aegina and Salamina. The bulletin does not state the amount of the fine or the number of people on board. More from the area on the Megara page. Similar incidents were recorded the same two days at other ports in the Saronic and Euboean Gulfs. Industry professionals have for years called for tighter checks, arguing that illegal activity operates at clearly lower cost and distorts competition on the most popular routes.