Ankara responded with restraint after the French research vessel Abeille Marengo moved into international waters southeast of Karpathos, an area that falls within Greece’s delimited exclusive economic zone (EEZ). According to reports, Turkey did not go as far as formally hailing the ship and instead limited itself to reading a prepared statement.

The message came from the Turkish frigate TCG Gökova, which has been shadowing the survey ship from a distance. Over the radio, the frigate declared that the vessel was operating on what Turkey considers its continental shelf and had consent to continue its route. Notably, the statement said nothing about any authorization for the survey work itself. That omission is seen as another sign that Turkey was never asked for, and never granted, permission for the surveys. Had such a permit existed, there would have been no need for the announcement.

Reading out a statement is a lower-level step than hailing. When a ship is hailed, it is identified over the radio and asked to provide its details and full information about the work it is doing.

A Greek station also reportedly sent out its own radio message. It said the Abeille Marengo was on the Greek continental shelf and was carrying out its work and surveys in line with the NAVTEX issued by the Heraklion station.