The first administrative step toward resuming work related to the laying of the power interconnection cable between Crete – Cyprus was taken with the submission of a request by NEXANS SA to the relevant department of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the issuance of a NAVTEX. Meanwhile, according to an announcement by the Hellenic Coast Guard, in Greece, an application was filed for the exceptional use of the French-flagged vessel ABEILLE MARENGO to conduct the necessary marine surveys.
The submission of the request triggers the review process by the Interministerial Committee for the Granting of Marine Research Permits (EXAETH) in Greece. The committee will forward its recommendation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, and, provided the necessary approval is granted, the request will be forwarded to the Ministry of National Defense for the issuance of the NAVTEX. This announcement is a necessary prerequisite for conducting the research.
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It remains unclear, however, whether the French side has reached an agreement with Turkey in order to address the obstacles that have arisen due to Turkey’s demand that a request for the issuance of a NAVTEX also be submitted to the relevant Turkish authorities.
Based on current estimates, work is expected to resume after the end of October, as all required administrative procedures must first be completed.
The application submitted to the relevant department of the Greek Ministry of Shipping concerns the conduct of marine surveys for the installation of subsea direct-current cables as part of the Crete–Cyprus power interconnection, known as the Great Sea Interconnector. Specifically, the request concerns the maritime areas within Greek territorial waters and is addressed to the Greek Coast Guard. The application for exceptional use of the vessel was submitted by Next Geosolution Europe SA, which has undertaken this specific task on behalf of the contractor, NEXANS SA. The work includes the necessary preliminary underwater survey, with oceanographic and bathymetric measurements, in the maritime area between Korakia, in the prefecture of Heraklion, Crete, and Cyprus.
The application specifies that, at this time, no changes are planned to the procedure or the route for the planned cable laying and routing. The survey will follow the information included in the relevant documents, which formed the basis for previous permits.
At the same time, it is noted that the work is expected to be completed within the current timeframe, by December 31, 2026, unless a new extension is deemed necessary.
Sources within the Coast Guard clarify that the research work has already been approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As they emphasize, the application submitted to the Ministry of Shipping concerns exclusively the exceptional authorization for this specific vessel to carry out operations within Greek territorial waters.
