Greece on Friday issued a navtex for the French survey vessel Abeille Marengo to carry out surveys for the Crete–Cyprus electricity interconnection, running until 6 March 2027.
The navtex takes effect immediately, meaning the Abeille Marengo, which has remained in Heraklion port, will set sail for the survey area straight away. It covers the entire route along which the cable is to be laid, up to Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Surveys have already been carried out in the areas north of Crete, which include international waters, even after the incident off Kasos. The main section still to be surveyed is the area east of Kasos up to the limits of Cyprus’s EEZ.
Well-informed sources believe the climate, including after the US midterm elections, favours a resumption of the surveys and makes a repeat of the 2024 incident, when surveys were halted after Turkish warships intervened, less likely.
Following an understanding between the French and Turkish sides, the expectation is that Turkey will either not react or will limit itself to hailing, challenging the vessel by radio, as has tended to happen.
(information from protothema.gr)
