Apostolos Tomaras
The French survey vessel Abeille Marengo, currently anchored in the port of Heraklion, is expected to set sail in the coming days. According to Greek media reports, preparations for the survey are nearly complete, and a maritime notice known as a NAVTEX is expected to be issued over the weekend.
Before the notice is issued, an interministerial committee will meet to consider a request from the French company Nexans for a special permit allowing the vessel to carry out survey work. A request will then be submitted to Greece’s Ministry of National Defense for the Hellenic Navy’s Hydrographic Service to issue the NAVTEX through its Heraklion station.
Once the notice is issued, the vessel will leave Heraklion and head to international waters east of Kasos to begin surveying the seabed.
The diplomatic arrangement
Greek media also reported that France has worked out a diplomatic arrangement to avoid tensions with Turkey. According to those reports, Paris held behind-the-scenes talks with Ankara, and the agreed approach is simply to inform the Turkish side.
Athens is also preparing for the possibility that Turkey could take steps to heighten tensions. If Turkey issues its own NAVTEX, Greece will respond with a counter-notice asserting that the survey areas lie within the Greek continental shelf.
