Turkey sends Cagri Bey drilling ship to Somalia in first offshore mission abroad
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has dispatched its deep-sea drilling vessel Cagri Bey to Somali waters, launching Ankara’s first offshore energy exploration campaign outside its own maritime zone, officials from both countries said Sunday.
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Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar called the deployment a “historic moment” for Turkey’s oil and gas strategy as the ship departed Tasucu port in the southern province of Mersin. The vessel is expected to reach Somalia in about 45 days and begin drilling in April at the Curad-1 well off the country’s coast, he said.
Bayraktar added that three Turkish naval warships will escort the vessel during its transit. “For the first time, our deep-sea drilling ship is setting out on a mission beyond our maritime zone,” he said at a sendoff ceremony.
Somalia framed the mission as a landmark step in its bid to convert offshore potential into national revenue and jobs after years of instability. Daahir Shire Mohamed, the minister of petroleum and mineral resources, described the Cagri Bey’s departure as a milestone in the country’s economic recovery and a test of transparent resource governance.
“Today is a great and historic day. It reflects Somalia’s recovery and the rebuilding of its destiny with confidence toward a prosperous future,” he said, calling the ship “a national symbol — a symbol of hope, opportunity and a new beginning grounded in legality, transparency and responsibility.” He pledged that Somalia’s natural resources would be managed equitably and in line with international standards to benefit both current and future generations.
The mission stems from a 2024 exploration agreement granting Turkey offshore rights in Somalia. It advances Ankara’s drive to expand its hydrocarbon footprint and reduce dependence on imported energy, a central pillar of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long-term economic and geopolitical strategy.
Bayraktar said Turkey aims to produce 500,000 barrels per day of oil or equivalent hydrocarbons by 2028, with ambitions to double that output through new discoveries and production-sharing agreements abroad.
For Somalia, the operation brings high-stakes promise and added scrutiny. Offshore exploration could open a new chapter in state revenues and infrastructure investment, but it also requires careful stewardship to ensure transparency, community benefit and environmental safeguards. Officials in Mogadishu say they view Turkey — already a major partner in defense, security and infrastructure — as a long-term investor aligned with Somalia’s recovery goals.
Key details:
- Cagri Bey departed Tasucu port in Mersin, southern Turkey
- Arrival in Somali waters expected in about 45 days
- First drilling slated for April at the Curad-1 well
- Transit escorted by three Turkish naval warships
- Mission enabled by a 2024 Turkey-Somalia offshore exploration deal
The arrival of the Cagri Bey is set to deepen a strategic partnership that has broadened significantly over the past decade. With defense training programs, infrastructure projects and security cooperation already in place, energy now moves to the center of Ankara-Mogadishu ties. If successful, the Curad-1 campaign could shape future licensing rounds, attract additional investment and push Somalia higher on the regional energy map — while giving Turkey a foothold in a frontier basin beyond its own waters.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
