Türkiye Expands Energy Ambitions

(MENAFN) Türkiye has welcomed the newest addition to its deep-sea energy exploration fleet as an ultra-deepwater drilling vessel reached the southern province of Mersin, according to a statement by the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on Tuesday.

The minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced via the local social media platform NSosyal that the first of two recently acquired drilling ships has docked at the Tasucu port.

He noted that this state-of-the-art, seventh-generation vessel is engineered to bore as deep as 12,000 meters (approximately 39,370 feet) and is set to support Türkiye’s forthcoming activities in the Mediterranean.

Bayraktar further stated, "Our second drilling ship will also arrive in Türkiye by the end of the year," highlighting that the country is poised to become the fourth-largest holder of a deep-sea drilling fleet globally.

He emphasized that such advancements mark a major step forward in Türkiye’s long-term pursuit of full energy autonomy.

Constructed in South Korea in 2024, the vessel spans 228 meters in length and 42 meters in width.

It includes a helipad and accommodations for up to 200 personnel, ensuring that extended offshore missions are well-supported.

Currently, Türkiye’s energy fleet features several active drill ships — Fatih, Yavuz, Kanuni, and Abdulhamid Han — all engaged in operations at the Sakarya gas field in the Black Sea.

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