Both Athens and Nicosia issued a NAVTEX regarding the route of the French research vessel Abeille Marengo, which will conduct surveys for the electrical interconnection between Crete – Cyprus from today through March 6, 2026.
The NAVTEX covers the entire cable-laying route up to the Cypriot EEZ. In the areas north of Crete, which include international waters, surveys have already been conducted, even after the incident off Kasos. The main part of the survey that remains concerns the area east of Kasos, up to the boundaries of the Cypriot EEZ.
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As protothema reported yesterday, the NAVTEX takes effect immediately, which means that the French research vessel Abeille Marengo, which remains in the port of Heraklion, will set sail immediately for the survey area.
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View Cyprus’s NAVTEX
The announcement from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes in its announcement, the required licensing procedures have been completed by the competent Greek authorities for the conduct of survey and cable-laying operations as part of the Greece and Cyprus (GSI), following a relevant request submitted by the French company NEXANS on behalf of the project owner, GSI.
Specifically, following a positive opinion from the competent Interministerial Committee for the Granting of Marine Survey Permits (EXAETH), the Minister of Foreign Affairs issued today, November 6, 2026, the relevant decision authorizing the survey and cable-laying operations. Subsequently, the research vessel requested the issuance of the required NAVTEX notice to mariners for the execution of the operations, which was issued immediately.
View the NAVTEX:
According to information from protothema.gr, on November 2, members of the special interministerial committee (EXAETH), which operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were informed. A positive response was given, and the Coast Guard issued the “exemption permit” for the French-flagged vessel Abeille Marengo. This was followed by an official request from the project management company for the issuance of a NAVTEX, which was forwarded to the Ministry of National Defense, and the ministry immediately issued the NAVTEX through the Navy’s Hydrographic Service.
Well-informed sources estimate that the current environment, as it has evolved following the U.S. midterm elections, creates a favorable environment for the resumption of exploration and reduces the likelihood of a repeat of the 2024 incident, when the explorations were suspended following the intervention of Turkish warships. It is estimated that, following the consultation between the French and Turkish sides, either there will be no reaction from the Turkish side, or it will be limited to the usual, as is becoming the norm, hailing procedure (harassment via radio).
Of course, this does not mean that Ankara is willing to accept actions it considers contrary to its own objectives and claims; it has warned that it will “protect its rights” and will not allow “unauthorized surveys in the area of the Turkish continental shelf.”
According to reports, however, the French proposal to “inform” the Turkish side about the explorations appears to have been accepted by Ankara, as it offers a face-saving solution, despite the fact that some argue this formula has “gray areas,” since there is no obligation to inform any state other than the coastal state of the continental shelf that receives the permit application and issues the relevant NAVTEX.
The Turkish side will most likely present the “notification” as a permit application, in which case it is expected to issue its own NAVTEX for the surveys. Regarding the latter, in accordance with standard practice, the Heraklion Station will issue a counter-NAVTEX, noting that the surveys are being conducted within the Greek continental shelf and that the Greek NAVTEX is the one issued by the station with the relevant jurisdiction.
Source: protothema.gr
