Turkish President Erdogan bids farewell to the country’s energy research vessel departing for Somalia
Erdogan announced a transformative shift for the once conflict-ridden Somali region, saying it will now be heralded for growth, prosperity, and peace thanks to the discoveries by Oruc Reis.
Under a deal inked in March between Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the ship will conduct seismic surveys in Somali waters.
Around 11 a.m. (0800GMT), the vessel set sail through the Istanbul Straits after making its entrance from the Black Sea, cruising past the Presidential Dolmabahce Office, the ceremony venue held at 2:30 p.m. (1130GMT).
Erdogan gave a warm salute to the crew, joined by Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar at the event.
Slated to reach Somali shores later this month, the vessel will carry out seismic surveys for oil and natural gas across three zones where Türkiye has secured exploration rights, according to a ministry announcement.
The ship’s journey will traverse the Mediterranean Sea and pass through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea.
Alongside two Turkish naval frigates and support vessels Zaganos Pasa, Sancar Platform, and Ataman Tracking, the ship will undertake 3-D seismic research near Somalia’s coast.
The mission, lasting approximately seven months, aims to amass seismic data on oil and gas, with subsequent analysis in Ankara to determine potential drilling locales.
“This endeavor in specified maritime territories, a pioneering effort with anticipated oil markers, sees Oruc Reis engaging in 3D seismic studies,” Bayraktar remarked.
Surveying an expanse of over 23,000 square kilometers, launched in 2017, the Oruc Reis stands as a testament to Turkish engineering prowess, designed in Türkiye from scratch, involving Turkish engineers, technicians, and workers at all development stages.
Built for geophysical, geological, oceanic, and hydrographic surveys, the ship measures 87 meters (285 feet) long, 23 meters (75 feet) wide, and rises 34 meters (111 feet) high, featuring four 2,520-kilowatt diesel-electric engines capable of executing both 2-D and 3-D seismic studies for offshore oil and gas probing. The vessel, thus far, has amassed data covering 23,000 square kilometers (8,880 square miles).
Earlier this year, Türkiye and Somalia penned agreements granting Turkish Petroleum, Türkiye’s national oil entity, exploration rights over three offshore zones in Somali waters, each spanning about 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles).
*Crafted by Seda Sevencan and Serdar Dincel
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
