Greece and France are considering re-routing the Great Sea Connector (Crete-Cyprus HVDC cable) to avoid Turkey's new Fethiye-Kaş marine park, announced in August 2026 near Kastellorizo (Meis).
France now controls the project.
Meridiam took 66% ownership in August, Nexans will lay the cable, and will serve as a French-flagged survey vessel.
Athens and Paris agreed to notify Turkey of the survey work instead of seeking permission, citing UNCLOS rules that cables do not require coastal state consent.
The problem: 40% of seabed surveys remain unfinished in the sensitive waters east of Kasos, where Turkish warships interrupted work in 2024.
Greece is also considering extending territorial waters to 12 nm south/west of Crete before resuming surveys.
No new survey date is locked.
Source: Kathimerini