A repeat of the Italian research vessel’s investigations north of Crete, as Turkey has once again sent a corvette to monitor the NG Worker’s investigations for the laying of a cable for the Crete-Cyprus electrical interconnection.

The Greek Authorities issued two NAVTEXs for investigations by the NG Worker and Ievoli Relume vessels in the same area where both NAVTEXs had been issued about ten days ago, north of Crete, in an area of ​​international waters.

At the time, Turkey had dispatched a corvette, which monitored the two research vessels from a distance and harassed them by radio with the provocative message that this was an area of “undefined territory”, which does not belong to Greek jurisdiction. A message that was recorded as support for the “Blue Homeland” theory, which maps Turkey’s claims up to the middle of the Aegean Sea and, at the same time, states the Turkish position that no work – not even that which falls under freedom of the seas and is not related to the continental shelf – can take place in the Aegean unless there is a prior delimitation of the continental shelf. Sources in the Turkish Defense Ministry had even stated that there are Turkish interests in the area (north of Crete) and that no fait accompli would be accepted by Greece.

Of the two new NAVTEX, one, concerning the Ievoli Relume, remained inactive, as the ship remained in the port of Heraklion. However, the start of operations of the NG Worker, which in the morning was sailing north of Heraklion at a distance of 1-3 nm. out of territorial waters, again prompted the mobilization of Turkey, which has sent a corvette monitoring from a distance of 15-20 nm, without so far any radio interference. A Greek warship is also sailing in the area.