French research vessel commences Great Sea Interconnector surveys

On November 12, 2026, the French research vessel Abeille Marengo, chartered by Nexans, entered international waters southeast of Karpathos to begin seabed mapping for the Great Sea Interconnector, which links the electricity grids of Greece and Cyprus. The vessel completed calibration tests of its specialized sonar equipment prior to starting the survey. The mission is being conducted under permits issued by Athens and Nicosia, which also issued navigational warnings (NAVTEX) to assert their maritime jurisdictions.

Upon entering the area, the Turkish frigate TCG Gökova broadcast a message over the radio claiming the vessel was in an area of the Turkish continental shelf and had Turkey's consent to proceed. Unlike standard hailing, this was a scripted message and did not demand a halt to operations. Greek naval vessels, including the frigate Nikiforos Fokas and the frigate Limnos, maintained a presence in the vicinity to monitor the situation. While some Turkish media outlets characterized the event as a success for Ankara's claims, Greek authorities maintained that no Turkish permission was requested or granted for the research. The survey is scheduled to continue as a critical step in finalizing the cable route.