The Turkish oceanographic ship Piri Reis departed from the port of Smyrna (Izmir) on Friday night (October 3), as part of the “scientific research” announced by Ankara through a NAVTEX.

Specifically, Turkey’s NAVTEX for Piri Reis is in effect from October 4 to 14, covering a large area, even in the central Aegean, fully encompassing the potential Greek continental shelf as well as the Greek NAVTEX responsibility area.

The area covered by this latest Turkish NAVTEX extends from Thasos to Chios, Agios Efstratios, Mykonos, Ikaria, and Fournoi.

The research will take place in Turkish territorial waters and international waters, but also in areas of potential Greek continental shelf.

Greece’s reaction was immediate: Athens issued its own NAVTEX, valid until October 25, reminding that the Turkish NAVTEX illegally includes areas within the Greek continental shelf and Greece’s NAVTEX responsibility zone.