Turkish Piri Reis sailing above the Greek continental shelf

The Turkish ship Piri Reis is not one of the best-equipped ships to conduct surveys. Its equipment is outdated, and doubts are expressed even about the seaworthiness of the ship. A few months ago, when Turkey threatened that Cyprus has no right to look for ways to utilize natural gas in the Cypriot EEZ, Ankara sent the Piri Reis to carry out surveys along the coast of Cyprus. But the "pride" of the Turks suffered severe damage and was stranded on the high seas.

 

Today, the Piri Reis was in the Aegean. Just before 5 pm Wednesday, the Piri Reis sailed slowly in international waters about 18 miles northwest of Lesvos, doing work above the Greek continental shelf, without notification to the Greek side as required by international law.

 

The Turks decided to do biological and oceanographic research, work done at sea level and not on the continental shelf. This detail, however, which is essential for the accuracy of the story, has no real significance.

 

And this is because a Turkish research ship, without having informed and without obtaining special permission from Athens, is working at an area of Greek jurisdiction; an area that might be in international waters, which means there is freedom of navigation, but because it is a research vessel conducting operations above the Greek continental shelf Greece has full sovereignty, which Turkey is trying to "exploit" illegally. The Turkish ship is monitored discreetly by a Greek Coast Guard boat. On a diplomatic level, instructions were given to the Greek Embassy in Ankara to make representations to the Turkish Foreign ministry.

 

It is obvious that the main purpose of the Turks is not research in an area of Greek sovereignty, but to test the strength of the Greek side, to determine the readiness of its system.

 

These are tactical moves with all eyes on the day after, when Greece plans to search for and identify hydrocarbon zones within the Greek jurisdiction, and Turkey is threatening Cyprus that it will not allow it to expand the placement of floating docks with drills looking for oil and natural gas into other areas.