Turkish Vessel Piri Reis Sparks Maritime Dispute in Aegean Sea

Izmir, Turkey - October 4, 2025

At 01:00 on October 4, 2025, the Turkish oceanographic vessel Piri Reis departed from the port of Izmir, setting course for the central Aegean Sea, according to real-time tracking data from marinetraffic.com.

The vessel’s mission, outlined in a Turkish Navtex issued on October 3, involves scientific research from October 4 to 14, covering areas west of the Greek islands of Chios and Lesvos. The survey spans Turkish territorial waters, international waters, and regions overlapping the Greek continental shelf, including areas under Athens’ NAVTEX jurisdiction.

Turkish Navtex Triggers Tensions

The Turkish Navtex has reignited longstanding maritime disputes between Turkey and Greece. The notice claims the Piri Reis will conduct research in areas that Greece asserts fall within its continental shelf, prompting swift condemnation from Athens. The overlap with Greece’s NAVTEX area of responsibility, managed by the Hellenic Navy, has escalated tensions in the region.

Greece’s Immediate Response

In a direct countermeasure, Greece issued an anti-NAVTEX from the Lemnos station of its Navy’s Hydrographic Service, effective until October 25, 2025. The Greek notice, identified as NAVWARN 165/25, labels the Turkish Navtex (IA68-0947/25) as illegal, arguing that it unlawfully reserves areas within the Greek continental shelf. It further clarifies that only the Limnos NAVTEX station is authorized to broadcast navigational warnings in the Hellenic NAVTEX service area. The Greek anti-NAVTEX cancels the Turkish notice effective October 14, 2025, at 21:00 UTC.

Broader Implications

This incident underscores the ongoing geopolitical friction between Turkey and Greece over maritime boundaries and resource exploration rights in the Aegean Sea. The overlapping claims to the continental shelf have long been a flashpoint, with both nations asserting sovereignty over strategic areas. The deployment of Piri Reis and the competing NAVTEX notices highlight the delicate balance of power in the region, raising concerns about potential escalation.

As the Piri Reis continues its mission, regional observers are closely monitoring developments. The Greek government has signaled its intent to uphold its maritime rights, while Turkey maintains that its research operations comply with international law. The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic channels likely to play a critical role in resolving the dispute.