Turkish president sends off Oruç Reis seismic research ship on mission to Somalia

According to information published by the Turkish presidency on October 5, 2024, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended a send-off ceremony for Turkey’s domestically developed seismic research vessel, Oruç Reis, as it departed for a mission in Somalia. The vessel’s deployment follows an agreement signed in March between Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. This agreement covers onshore and offshore exploration blocks in Somalia.

Accompanying this vessel are two G-class frigates, TCG Gediz and TCG Gokova, which are providing vital naval protection throughout the mission. These frigates, modernized versions of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class, have been extensively upgraded with advanced systems, including the GENESIS combat management system, to enhance their operational capabilities in complex maritime environments.

This deployment underscores Turkey’s strategic interests in the Horn of Africa, where it has secured exploration rights in a 15,000-square-kilometer maritime zone off Somalia. The mission, expected to last around seven months, will see the Oruc Reis carrying out 3D seismic surveys in multiple license areas. The collected data will be critical in identifying potential drilling sites for future extraction operations.