Türkiye sends drill ship on first Med mission in two years
Türkiye sent its newest drill ship on the first eastern Mediterranean energy exploration mission in nearly two years.
The search for natural gas in energy-rich waters around the divided island of Cyprus has turned into an irritant in Türkiye's ties with the European Union.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Abdulhamid Han drill ship -- the fourth built by Türkiye -- will be sent to an undisputed area about 55 kilometres south of the city of Gazipasa.
The Abdulhamid Han is "the symbol of Türkiye's new vision in the area of energy," Erdogan said at the sending off ceremony in the southern city of Mersin.
"I am excited."
Tensions rose between Ankara and Brussels in 2020 after Türkiye sent a seismic research vessel and a drill ship into contested waters claimed by Greece and Cyprus.
A Greek and a Turkish warship that were shadowing one of the exploration missions became entangled in a small collision in the Mediterranean that August.
The designated area for Abdulhamid Han is north of Cyprus and well-removed from disputed regions of the sea.
But Erdogan warned that Türkiye reserved the right to search for gas in disputed waters claimed by Ankara.
"Our ship will not stop, she will go to other wells and continue to search (for gas) until she finds it," Erdogan definitely said.
Turkish media reported that the ship would be exploring gas until October 7.
Energy-hungry Türkiye is dependent on outside sources to meet its growing needs.
