The departure of the research vessel Abeille Marengo from the port of Heraklion is now imminent, as it prepares to head for international waters south-east of Karpathos as part of the Crete–Cyprus electricity interconnection project (Great Sea Interconnector – GSI).

According to the latest information, the vessel is expected to set sail at around 6 pm.

The ship is departing on behalf of Nexans, with the sea area east of Crete and south of Kasos as its destination, where surveys were halted in the summer of 2024. The aim is to resume seabed mapping along the planned route of the subsea cable.

Immediately after departure, the vessel will carry out calibration tests to check and calibrate its sensors and measurement systems while sailing in territorial waters. The process is expected to take approximately 24 hours, after which the vessel will proceed to the survey area.

The slight delay in the vessel’s departure, initially attributed to weather conditions, is evidently also linked to the completion of delicate manoeuvres that have been under way in recent days, based on the French formula. This is taking place despite the fact that the Turkish government has made no official response, apart from a statement by Hakan Fidan that was reassuring in tone but also enigmatic.

The required NAVTEX navigational warnings have been issued by Greece and the Republic of Cyprus for the mission, while Turkey has responded with counter-NAVTEX notices, reiterating its objections to the jurisdictional authority in the area.