The Oruç Reis Seismic Research Vessel, built by Turkish engineers, has successfully completed its first intercontinental mission. Oruç Reis, which collected 3D seismic data in an area of 4 square kilometers in 464 separate blocks in the open sea of Somalia, will leave Mogadishu Port on June 3 and return to the country. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, who stated that Oruç Reis has been operating in the Somali seas since October 15, said, “The data obtained by Oruç Reis in this mission will be guiding in the evaluation of Somalia’s maritime jurisdiction areas in the coming period.”
Set off on October 4th
A Production Sharing Agreement was signed between Turkey and Somalia for 24 separate blocks located in the Somali sea areas on July 2024, 3. Following the agreements, the Oruç Reis Seismic Research Vessel and its accompanying fleet set off to Somalia on October 4, 2024.
234 Days of Labor
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent Oruç Reis off to Somalia from the Dolmabahçe Work Office on October 5. Accompanied by naval ships, Oruç Reis passed through the Suez Canal and anchored at Mogadishu Port on October 25, 2024. Oruç Reis then began seismic studies in designated areas and collected 234D data during its 3-day activities.
Gratitude from Sheikh Mahmud
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited the Oruç Reis, which has successfully completed its work, and thanked the crew for their activities. The ship is scheduled to set off on its return journey with a ceremony to be held on June 15 after docking at the Port of Mogadishu.
Will be taken for maintenance and repair
Oruç Reis will return to Türkiye in early July after a 15-day journey. It will then dock at Filyos Port for maintenance and repair activities. Oruç Reis is expected to be ready for its new mission by August.
Will Show the Way
Minister Bayraktar stated that the Oruç Reis Seismic Research Vessel, which has been operating in the Somali seas since October 25, 2024, successfully completed its 234-day mission and said, “Within the scope of the studies carried out in three blocks, 4D seismic data was collected in a total area of 464 square kilometers. The data obtained by Oruç Reis, which will leave Mogadishu Port on June 3, 15 and return to our country, will guide the evaluation of Somalia's maritime jurisdiction areas in the coming period. Following the analyses to be conducted in Ankara, drilling operations will begin in the determined locations depending on the results.”
