Navtex planned for Great Sea Interconnector surveys between Cyprus and Crete

Nicosia, Cyprus. A navtex will be issued “as soon as possible” to notify ships between Cyprus and Crete that seabed surveys will proceed ahead of cable-laying work for the Great Sea Interconnector, reports said on Tuesday.

President Nikos Christodoulides, French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have discussed the matter and agreed that the notice should be issued at the earliest possible opportunity, according to Phileleftheros.

Operational decisions

The navtex is expected once the project’s majority shareholder, French asset management firm Meridiam, and French cable manufacturer Nexans agree on “the crucial decisions for the operational part of their next actions”.

These decisions include selecting the companies that will carry out the seabed surveys and setting a timetable for the work.

Disputed waters

Greece’s independent transmission system operator Admie, which owned the project until Meridiam acquired a majority stake earlier this month, said about 60 per cent of the seabed surveys have been completed.

The remaining 40 per cent is in waters claimed by both Greece and Turkey.

Competing claims have previously affected efforts to conduct surveys between Cyprus and Greece. In 2024, Turkish naval vessels were deployed after the Italian research vessel Ievoli Reulme entered waters Turkey considers its own.

Naval vessels escorted the research ship away from Turkey, while Greece also dispatched naval vessels to the area.

The European Commission said at the time that it “continues to expect Turkey to unequivocally commit to and promote good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes”.

The dispute concerns whether islands generate their own exclusive economic zones.