Greece Considers French Research Vessel For Undersea Surveys

Greece is examining a request to allow a French-flagged research vessel to conduct underwater surveys in Greek territorial waters for the Great Sea Interconnector, the planned electricity link between Crete and Cyprus.

The request seeks an exceptional permit for the multipurpose vessel VB Abeille Marengo (IMO 9388613), citing the technical demands of the surveys, the claimed lack of suitable Greek-flagged vessels and the need to prepare for the installation of 500-kilovolt direct-current submarine power cables.

Under Greek maritime procedures, Greek-flagged vessels receive priority for work carried out in the country’s territorial waters.

A document issued by the Hellenic Coast Guard’s Port Police Directorate on 14 October 2026 calls on the competent port authorities to investigate whether any Greek-flagged vessels have the technical capabilities required to carry out the work.

The process began after the Greek shipping agency D. Patrikios IKE submitted a request on 9 October 2026. The agency represents the application for the exceptional permit to use the French vessel in Greece.

The port authorities must submit their responses by 13:00 on Friday, 16 October 2026. The document states that authorities do not need to submit negative responses if no suitable Greek-flagged vessels are available.

The outcome of the inquiry will help determine whether the authorities can grant an exception for the French vessel to continue the underwater survey work associated with the Crete-Cyprus electricity interconnector.

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