French survey vessel begins work on Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection

On the morning of November 12, 2026, the survey vessel Abeille Marengo, chartered by the French company Nexans, entered international waters to commence operations for the electrical interconnection between Greece and Cyprus. Following the completion of equipment calibration, the vessel is now conducting research south-southeast of Karpathos island after passing near Kasos.

The project has proceeded despite Turkish attempts to assert jurisdiction in the area, which led to a diplomatic exchange involving Navtex and anti-Navtex broadcasts. The Republic of Cyprus officially authorized the research activities under license 05/2026 and maritime notice NW 345/26 issued by the Larnaca JRCC. France reportedly issued a verbal note to Ankara regarding the dispute.

Defense authorities in Greece and Cyprus are monitoring the situation, maintaining a state of readiness as the vessel proceeds with its research. These activities mark a significant milestone in the long-planned infrastructure project intended to link the power grids of the two nations.