Turkish survey vessel sailing between Greek islands

Tensions steadily rise

In the latest of a series of incidents between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea, Turkish survey vessel TCG Cesme is currently sailing in international waters between Greeks islands and mainland Greece, according to NAVTEX (244/17) -an international safety signal/warning information to ships- issued by the Turkish government on Wednesday. The vessel is sailing at a low speed between the Greek the peninsula of Mount Athos and islands of Thasos, Limnos and Samothrace in the northern Aegean. The oceanographic vessels is not being escorted by any Turkish military ship, while its course is not being monitored by any Greek navy ship. The Greek side responded to the initial NAVTEX by issuing a counter-NAVTEX stating that the Turkish station of Smyrna is unauthorised to issue the specific NAVTEX.

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