Greece–Cyprus cable: NAVTEX that will send the Abeille Marengo back south of Kasos expected within hours

The procedure for the NAVTEX that will allow seabed surveys for the Greece–Cyprus cable to resume is entering its final stretch. Greek public broadcaster ERT estimates that the navigational warning will be issued within a few hours, clearing the way for the French vessel Abeille Marengo to return to the survey area south of Kasos. The Special Interministerial Committee is at the end of its assessment, and its positive opinion is expected by Friday, November 6.

After the committee’s recommendation, three successive steps remain before the new NAVTEX is issued; see our report on what remains before the new NAVTEX.

The three steps that remain

The Coast Guard must first grant the vessel an exemption permit. The survey company’s final application to the Foreign Ministry follows. Finally, the ministry turns to the Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service, which is responsible for issuing the warning and opening the area for the ship.

The coordinates of the points where the work will take place have already been sent by the company to the Greek side and were examined by the Committee. The assessment is carried out on the basis of the maritime zones.

Immediate effect and departure from Heraklion

The warning will take effect from the moment of issue. Once it is out, the Abeille Marengo, which is waiting moored in the port of Heraklion, will sail for the survey area. It has been there since it left Naples for Heraklion.

The government, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis first among them, has stated that the timetable is not changing. ERT notes that the interconnector remains a European project, with joint participation by Athens, Nicosia and Paris.

The Gerapetritis window and the government’s position

Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, speaking to the relevant parliamentary committee on Tuesday, November 3, set a window of 5 to 15 days for the navigational warning. That period effectively begins over the weekend of November 7–8. Athens insists that the request for licensing the surveys was submitted exclusively to the Greek authorities.

Asked on Thursday, November 5 whether a Turkish frigate could appear near the survey vessel, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis answered: “It is something we do not believe will happen and we want to believe it will not, but as the ministry and the minister himself have said, we are prepared for all eventualities.” He also stressed that this is a European Union project, with the assistance of Greece, Cyprus and France, and not a purely Greek matter.

France now has a direct interest in the progress of the works, following the entry of the French group Meridiam into the project, which is also funded by the European Commission.

Ankara had answered a previous Greek navigational warning for the same vessel with a counter-NAVTEX from Antalya, disputing the competence of the Heraklion station. The decision rests on the Interministerial Committee’s recommendation, expected by Friday, November 6, while ERT speaks of the NAVTEX being issued within hours.