Turkey Launches First Overseas Deep-Sea Drilling Mission in Somalia

Turkey’s deep-sea drilling vessel, the Çağrı Bey, has arrived in Somalia to begin Ankara’s first overseas offshore drilling operation. The vessel will drill at the Curad-1 well, reaching depths of 7,500 meters over 288 days. Turkish officials described the mission as historic, marking a new chapter in energy collaboration between Türkiye and Somalia and showcasing Turkey’s expanding role in international energy exploration.

A Turkish deep-sea drilling vessel, the Çağrı Bey, has arrived in Somalia to commence what Turkey describes as a “historic mission,” marking the country’s first overseas deep-sea drilling operation. The announcement was made on Thursday by Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, who highlighted the significance of the operation for both nations. Speaking on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Bayraktar described the initiative as opening “a brand-new chapter in the energy history of both Türkiye and Somalia” and expressed hope for a successful mission, invoking God’s grace for the endeavor.
The vessel is scheduled to drill at the Curad-1 well off the Somali coast, according to Türkiye’s Energy Ministry. The operation is expected to reach depths of 7,500 meters (over 24,600 feet) and will last approximately 288 days. Bayraktar had previously indicated that the vessel would arrive in Somalia on Friday, emphasizing that the project represents Türkiye’s first offshore drilling campaign beyond its national borders.
The mission underscores Ankara’s growing interest in expanding its energy activities internationally, particularly in regions with untapped deep-sea oil and gas potential. By deploying the Çağrı Bey to Somali waters, Türkiye aims to strengthen its energy collaboration with Somalia while showcasing its technological capabilities in deep-sea drilling. Officials have described the venture as a long-term strategic effort that could have significant implications for energy production and regional partnerships in the Horn of Africa.
The arrival of the Çağrı Bey also signals a broader ambition for Türkiye to play a more prominent role in the global energy sector, leveraging its experience in domestic offshore drilling to explore opportunities abroad. The project is expected to draw attention from international energy markets and observers, given both the technical challenges of deep-sea drilling and the strategic importance of Somalia’s maritime resources.