Turkey’s new seismic survey ship Oruç Reis ready to enter service

ANKARA

Turkey’s new seismic survey ship, MTA Oruç Reis, has become ready to enter service. 

State-run Anadolu Agency reported on June 28 that all required tests of the ship had been completed.

The MTA Oruç Reis ship will become Turkey’s second national seismic survey ship at international standards, joining the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa. 

The MTA Oruç Reis was built at a shipyard in Istanbul’s Tuzla district for around 400 million Turkish Liras, using more than 90 percent local means, Anadolu Agency reported. 

The ship has the capacity to make 2D and 3D deep seismic surveys and it will make offshore oil and natural gas surveys. 

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak earlier announced that Turkey would conduct seismic studies for oil and gas drilling activities, noting that exploration would occur in two areas in the Black Sea and two in the Mediterranean.

“We will open two wells for each in these seas with a drilling ship on an annual basis. We plan to buy this ship over the year. This will be a first for Turkey,” Albayrak said.