The Mediterranean Sea, although relatively small in size compared to the oceans, and especially the Eastern Mediterranean, is an area of intense scientific and geopolitical activity and accordingly hosts a particularly active fleet of research vessels from various countries. This is due to its geopolitical dimension including energy resources, the presence of seismic faults and volcanic arcs – such as the Santorini, Milos, Nisyros, Ios arc – environmental threats like climate change and pollution, and its remarkable biodiversity – the Eastern Mediterranean is a hotspot for both native and invasive marine species and sensitive ecosystems.
The region also boasts a strong scientific community and potential fields for joint action, despite any political tensions of the states surrounding it. Scientific cooperation, through the universal language of science – e.g. through joint missions, observatories, or data exchange – serves as a channel of communication and stability (science diplomacy) when traditional diplomacy reaches a dead end, and builds bridges even when formal relations between nations are strained. An example is the occasional collaboration between researchers from Greece, Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Italy and Egypt in European research programs.
Most European countries have more than one research vessel, integrated into European networks such as the European Research Vessel Network (EUROFLEETS+) and the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). Greece is the only country with a vast coastline – the largest in the European Union and a strategic maritime space that has only one aging offshore vessel, the Aegaeo, of the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR). Built in 1985 and extensively refurbished in 1997, the Aegaeo has served Greek marine research – in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and the Red Sea – for nearly four decades while most countries retire similar vessels after 30 years. However, prolonged use has led to significant technical deterioration and limitations that seriously hinder modern scientific work. The challenges are numerous: The ship’s maintenance is increasingly difficult due to a lack of spare parts, its equipment struggles to support new technologies, its energy efficiency is low and its operating cost high, while seaworthiness issues limit both the range and the duration of missions.
Greece is at serious risk of being left without an operationally seaworthy oceanographic research vessel for the open sea. It is worth noting that external evaluations of HCMR by international committees in 2013 and again in 2022 both begin by highlighting the critically important need for a new, modern Greek research vessel. The 2022 report also stresses the huge delay in the implementation of this pivotal project. Since 2018, HCMR has submitted a proposal to the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a new vessel costing approximately €55 million, with 75% (€41 million) to be financed by the EIB and the remaining 25% (€14 million) by Greek public funds. The contract was signed in July 2020, with the EIB disbursing an advance of €8 million. Nevertheless, the Greek state contribution of €14 million has not yet been secured, with the result that implementation has not yet taken place by 2025! Meanwhile, international competition is intensifying.
Turkey has strategically invested in its fleet and now operates four large research vessels, most notably the seismic survey ships Oruc Reis and Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa, used not only for scientific research but also for geopolitical missions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Italy and France have modern national and European research vessels, integrated into networks that cover the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Arctic. In the field of marine science,
Greece is falling behind. The need for a new vessel is not just a matter of competition. It is also urgent from a scientific perspective. Today’s priorities include monitoring marine biodiversity, researching microplastics and pollution, studying climate change and ocean acidification, supporting offshore wind farms, monitoring seismic faults in the Aegean, and supporting the two new large marine parks recently announced by the Greek government. None of these missions can be fully supported by the current fleet. A new vessel would offer modern training opportunities for young scientists, enhancing national scientific capacity and connections with European research networks. Greece could also present a new oceanographic vessel as a tool of science diplomacy, for joint missions with Mediterranean states, for supporting international observatories, and for stronger positioning in regional scientific fora such as Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC) and the European Network for Marine Research (EuroMarine).
A new, modern Greek oceanographic vessel could become a platform for regional cooperation with neighboring countries, European institutes, and international organizations. Through joint missions, sharing observations, and hosting foreign researchers, Greece can strengthen its role as a reliable and stable scientific partner. In a world where scientific knowledge shapes policies for the environmental, energy and security, that trust translates into influence. On top of all this lies one more, more difficult to measure parameter: Greece’s credibility as a partner in European and international marine science.
The absence of a modern oceanographic vessel does not just signify scientific backwardness – it also means reduced participation in major international programs, loss of funding opportunities, and gradual marginalization. In short, the need for a new research vessel is a matter of national priority – scientific, technological and geopolitical. The new Greek research ship can become a meeting point of knowledge, dialogue, and technological innovation. In a region marked by geopolitical rivalries but united by shared environmental challenges, investment in a new offshore research vessel is not merely a scientific upgrade – it is a strategic act of international presence. It is a choice that strengthens Greece’s soft power, presenting it not only as a defender of national interests but also as a key player in shaping solutions in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
* Dr Elisabeth Lipiatou is head of unit at the Directorate General for Communications, Content and Technology of the European Commission, and a member of the global network Leading Women for the Ocean (LWO). She served as a member of the international evaluation committees for HCMR in 2013 and 2022. The views expressed here are strictly personal and do not represent the views of the European Commission.
