Ankara, Türkiye – Türkiye has taken a major step forward in its global energy expansion strategy with the arrival of a state-of-the-art drilling vessel in Mersin Taşucu. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed that the first of two newly acquired ships — a 7th-generation ultra-deepwater drilling vessel — has docked at the southern port ahead of its maiden assignment.
The ship, equipped with cutting-edge technology and capable of drilling to depths of up to 12,000 meters, is expected to be deployed for offshore operations in Somalia, marking a significant leap in Ankara’s growing energy cooperation with the Horn of Africa nation.
Türkiye and Somalia signed a landmark defence and economic cooperation agreement earlier this year, paving the way for exploration of Somalia’s vast offshore hydrocarbon reserves in the Indian Ocean. The deployment of the vessel would make Türkiye one of the first countries to undertake ultra-deepwater drilling in Somali waters, an area long suspected to hold untapped oil and gas deposits.
Bayraktar hailed the vessel’s arrival as a key milestone in Türkiye’s strategy to secure new energy resources beyond its borders. The second drilling ship is expected to join the fleet in the coming months.
If deployed as anticipated, the ship’s mission in Somalia could transform the country’s energy landscape while solidifying Türkiye’s influence in the region. Industry analysts say the move signals Ankara’s intent to become a major offshore energy player in Africa and the wider Indian Ocean basin.