A French research vessel docked at the port of Heraklion on Tuesday, marking the next concrete step toward physically co...

A French research vessel docked at the port of Heraklion on Tuesday, marking the next concrete step toward physically connecting Greece and Cyprus through an undersea electricity cable. The Abeille Marengo arrived from Italy and is currently on standby, waiting for the official issuance of a NAVTEX notice before surveys can begin. Under the terms of the operation, the vessel must notify the Hellenic Navy's Hydrographic Service, Submarine Command and Naval Aviation Command at least 72 hours before starting work, and provide daily updates throughout. Italy's Next Geosolutions Europe SpA will carry out the surveys on behalf of French cable manufacturer Nexans, which is responsible for constructing and installing the Crete-Cyprus cable. The company specialises in geophysical and geotechnical investigations for offshore energy infrastructure and belongs to the Marnavi shipping group. The survey route runs from the coastal area of Korakia in the Heraklion regional unit all the way to Cyprus. The team will map the seabed using a multibeam echosounder, side-scan sonar, a magnetometer and underwater video, with geotechnical sampling planned at depths of up to 700 metres. Other vessels must maintain a safety distance of at least one nautical mile from the Abeille Marengo during operations. Greek authorities at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Hellenic Coast Guard sought special approval to use the French-flagged vessel, citing the surveys' demanding technical requirements and the absence of suitable Greek-flagged alternatives. The Abeille Marengo, built in Norway in 2009, measures 73.2 metres in length. Coast Guard vessels and Hellenic Navy units are expected to maintain a discreet presence in the area throughout the surveys. The Great Sea Interconnector, the €1.9 billion project this work supports, is a designated EU Project of Common Interest and has already secured €680 million in EU funding. #GreatSeaInterconnector #Greece #Cyprus