Turkey has issued a new NAVTEX for subsea surveys and underwater works in the Eastern Mediterranean, extending planned activities in the same maritime area until December 31 as it pursues plans for a natural gas pipeline linking its southern coast with northern occupied Cyprus.
The new NAVTEX, numbered 1049/26, covers the period from October 26 to December 31 and outlines a maritime area defined by 12 coordinates.
According to Turkey’s General Directorate of Coastal Safety, the activities will involve four vessels. Other ships navigating in the area have been instructed to maintain a safe distance.
Four vessels involved in subsea operations
The vessels named in the announcement are Denar Pathfinder, Denar Echo, Denar Explorer and Kırıcı.
Their planned area of activity extends from Turkey’s southern coast towards Cyprus.
The new notice follows an earlier Turkish NAVTEX, numbered 0953/26, which covered the period from October 1 to October 25. The research vessel Oruç Reis also participated in the previous activities.
The two notices cover the same maritime area, effectively extending the period of planned operations through the end of the year.
Turkey’s proposed gas pipeline to northern Cyprus
The subsea activities come amid Turkish plans to build a natural gas pipeline connecting the Turkish coast with the northern occupied part of Cyprus.
According to previous announcements by the Turkish side, the proposed pipeline would begin near Anamur in southern Turkey and end at Teknecik, east of Kyrenia.
The pipeline is estimated to be approximately 101 kilometres long, with around 97 kilometres running underwater and the remaining four kilometres on land.
Ankara has presented the project as a way to strengthen energy supplies to the occupied north of Cyprus, following the existing subsea pipeline that transports water from Turkey to the island.
The latest NAVTEX extends the announced period of maritime activities, while the proposed gas pipeline remains part of Turkey’s broader plans for energy infrastructure serving occupied northern Cyprus.
Also read: Al Jazeera puts Israeli tourists and investments in Cyprus under scrutiny
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