The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001.  Please see www.state.gov for material released since President George W. Bush took office on that date.  This site is not updated so external links may no longer function.  Contact us with any questions about finding information. NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.

Notice to Research Vessel Operators No. 47

Subject: Greek Research Requirements
Released by the Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, February 27, 1978.

The U.S. Embassy in Athens recently received a diplomatic note from the Greek Government which describes their requirements for requesting permission to conduct marine scientific research in the Greek territorial sea or continental shelf.

"The request should be addressed to the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It should be submitted two months before the scheduled time of the research and contain the following information:

A. Purpose and estimated duration of research

B. Detailed description of the research

C. Name and technical data of vessel

D. Names and status of the crew

E. Type of instruments to be used for the research

F. A map representing the itinerary to be followed and the areas of the proposed research.

"The request should also include an understanding that, (I) Greek scientific personnel are invited to follow the research, (II) the results of the research will be communicated to the Greek authorities and, (III) the results will be published."

The above requirements are fairly standard and should not present problems to U.S. researchers. Names and status of the crew are not usually submitted to coastal states as part of the clearance request; therefore, I would suggest initially not submitting a crew list, but to comply upon special request. Clearances that are processed through State Department channels should be received by the Department 90 days in advance of the scheduled research.

Past experience with clearance requests to Greece indicate that they are very sensitive about research on their continental shelf. Detailed description of the research area and the type of research is essential, and the source of most requests for additional information by the Greek Government.

[end of document]

Return to the DOSFAN Home Page.
This is an official U.S. Government source for information on the World Wide Web. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.