Türkiye sent its deep-sea drilling vessel Cagri Bey to Somalia on Sunday for what its energy minister said would be Ankara's first offshore exploration mission outside its maritime zone.
Describing the move as a "historic moment" in Türkiye’s oil and gas exploration efforts, Alparslan Bayraktar said the vessel would begin drilling in April at the Curad-1 well off Somalia.
"For the first time, our deep-sea drilling ship is setting out on a mission beyond (our maritime zone)," Bayraktar said at a ceremony at Tasucu port in the southern province of Mersin.
According to Bayraktar, the mission makes Cagri Bey the second Turkish vessel to operate in Somali waters after the Oruç Reis, and the first drilling ship dispatched outside Türkiye’s maritime jurisdiction.
He said Cagri Bey, which recently joined Türkiye's drilling fleet, was expected to reach Somalia in about 45 days, adding that it would be escorted by three Turkish naval warships.
Türkiye aims to produce 500,000 barrels per day of oil or equivalent hydrocarbons by 2028, Bayraktar said, adding that Ankara expects to double that amount through discoveries and production-sharing agreements abroad.
Türkiye, which maintains close ties with Somalia, has strengthened cooperation with Mogadishu in areas ranging from energy and defence to infrastructure development.
Recent agreements between the two governments reflect a broader strategic partnership focused on long-term stability, economic growth and institutional capacity-building.
