ISTANBUL, Turkey — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar waved off the Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis on Saturday as it set sail from Istanbul bound for Somalia.
The vessel’s mission is to perform seismic surveys for oil and natural gas exploration off the Somali coast, where Turkey has secured rights.
The Oruc Reis, which will navigate through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and the Red Sea, is expected to reach Somali waters by late October. Accompanying the ship are two naval frigates along with support vessels including the Zaganos Pasa, Sancar, and Ataman.
According to a ministry statement, the vessel will conduct three-dimensional seismic studies in unexplored maritime territories of Somalia, a venture that could reveal significant hydrocarbon reserves. The exploration is set to last approximately seven months, focusing on collecting data that will be analyzed in Ankara to pinpoint potential drilling sites.
Minister Bayraktar emphasized the pioneering nature of the mission, stating, “Oruc Reis will conduct 3D seismic studies in areas where such work has never been done before. We believe this region shows promise for oil.”
Constructed entirely in Turkey, the Oruc Reis is a testament to the country’s technological capabilities in maritime research. Since its launch in 2017, this 87-meter-long vessel has been instrumental in seismic data collection over 23,000 square kilometers.
This deployment follows earlier agreements between Turkey and Somalia, which allowed Turkish Petroleum to explore three offshore zones, each approximately 5,000 square kilometers. This collaboration marks a significant step in Turkey’s strategic expansion in energy exploration beyond its borders.
