Abeille Marengo vessel departs for Crete to begin Great Sea Interconnector surveys

Great Sea Interconnector Abeille Marengo Nexans energy interconnection undersea cable

The French-flagged research vessel Abeille Marengo has departed from Naples, Italy, and is expected to arrive at the port of Heraklion, Crete, on October 27. The vessel is tasked with conducting essential oceanographic and bathymetric seabed surveys for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), a major undersea electricity cable project designed to link the power grids of Greece and Cyprus.

The surveys, commissioned by the contractor Nexans and performed by Next Geosolutions Europe SpA, aim to map the seabed morphology to finalize the cable's route. This phase is critical for the project, which seeks to end Cyprus's energy isolation and integrate it into the European electricity network. The undersea portion of the interconnection is expected to span approximately 898 kilometers with a capacity of 1,000 MW.

The resumption of these works follows previous delays caused by geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. While the upcoming surveys are planned to take place within Greek territorial waters—specifically in the maritime area between Korakias, Heraklion, and Cyprus—the project remains a sensitive issue in Athens-Ankara relations. A NAVTEX (navigational warning) is expected to be issued in the first ten days of November to provide precise operational coordinates once preparations in Heraklion are complete.

Entities

ABEILLE MARENGO · Abeille Marengo · Annita Demetriou · Crete · Cyprus · Great Sea Interconnector · Greece · Heraklion · Meridiam · Nexans · Next Geosolutions Europe SpA · Stavros Papastavrou

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 14 SOURCES] The Abeille Marengo will conduct oceanographic and bathymetric seabed surveys for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI). www.flash.gr · www.ot.gr · www.cna.gr · www.eleftherostypos.gr · nemesishd.gr · +9 more
[● 14 SOURCES] The French research vessel Abeille Marengo departed from Naples, Italy. www.flash.gr · www.ot.gr · www.eleftherostypos.gr · www.cna.gr · nemesishd.gr · +9 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The GSI project aims to end the energy isolation of Cyprus. www.eleftherostypos.gr · nemesishd.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.biskotto.gr · www.cna.gr · +6 more
[● 12 SOURCES] A NAVTEX will be issued once the vessel arrives in Heraklion and preparations are complete. www.flash.gr · www.ot.gr · www.eleftherostypos.gr · www.cna.gr · nemesishd.gr · +7 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Nexans has contracted Next Geosolutions Europe SpA to perform the geophysical surveys. www.ot.gr · nemesishd.gr · www.emakedonia.gr · www.biskotto.gr · www.cna.gr · +2 more
[● 14 SOURCES] The vessel is expected to arrive at the port of Heraklion on October 27. www.flash.gr · www.ot.gr · www.eleftherostypos.gr · www.cna.gr · nemesishd.gr · +9 more
[● 9 SOURCES] The NAVTEX is expected to be issued during the first ten days of November. www.biskotto.gr · www.cna.gr · www.flash.gr · www.lykavitos.gr · www.ot.gr · +4 more