French research vessel commences seabed surveys for Greece-Cyprus power link

The French research vessel Abeille Marengo departed the port of Heraklion, Crete, on the evening of November 10, 2026, to conduct seabed surveys for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI). The project, which aims to link the electrical grids of Greece and Cyprus, resumed after a five-month hiatus following interruptions caused by regional tensions in July 2024. The vessel is initially performing calibration tests within Greek territorial waters before proceeding to mapping operations south of Kasos and southeast of Karpathos.

Greek government officials, including spokesman Pavlos Marinakis and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, emphasized that the surveys are proceeding under Greek and Cypriot authorizations. They clarified that no permission was requested from Turkey, explicitly distinguishing between diplomatic notification and formal licensing. France issued a note verbale to Ankara to inform them of the operations, a move the Greek government described as a standard safety procedure for navigation rather than an acknowledgment of Turkish jurisdictional claims.

While Athens maintains that the project aligns with international law, the diplomatic maneuvering has sparked political debate in the Greek Parliament. Opposition leaders have criticized the government for the lack of transparency regarding the content of the French communication to Ankara. The mission remains a critical test for regional energy cooperation and diplomatic stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.