Greece seeks survey exemption to restart Great Sea Interconnector work

Naples, Italy. Greece has requested permission for the French-flagged Abeille Marengo, currently in Naples, to undertake seabed surveys within Greek territorial waters as part of efforts to restart the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project.

Survey request and reporting requirements

The Hellenic coast guard confirmed the submission of an exemption request covering marine surveys by the vessel along the proposed Crete–Cyprus cable route.

Before starting operations, the vessel must give Greek authorities at least 72 hours’ notice. It must also provide updates each day detailing the survey-area coordinates, activities undertaken and safety arrangements.

The surveys aim to chart the seabed and determine the technical specifications needed to install and protect the cable. According to the coast guard, the survey process and proposed route otherwise remain unchanged.

Restart timetable and electricity link

Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou recently indicated that a NAVTEX maritime notice covering the fresh surveys should be issued within the coming weeks.

The current expectation is that work will restart before the year ends, though another extension could be granted if necessary.

The GSI is intended to link Cyprus and Greece via an undersea electricity cable, bringing Cyprus into Europe’s electricity network.