Turkey’s new 7th generation drillship has departed for its first deep-water drilling operation outside Turkish territory. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan communicated with the crew of the “Cagri Bey” drillship, which is sailing toward Somalia, expressing his wishes for success in its first deep-water drilling mission.
“This journey, which will last until April, will truly be blessed and we expect good news from you, from Somalia, God willing. God willing, with these drilling operations, the actions of Turkish vessels will be heard and announced not only in our country, but around the world. I pray to Allah once more for your success.”
The approximately 45-day journey includes circumnavigating Africa via the Atlantic and Cape of Good Hope, as the vessel’s mast height prevents passage through the Suez Canal.
The objective is to explore for oil at three sites off Somalia, based on seismic data previously collected by the research vessel “Oruc Reis.” This marks the first drillship to conduct drilling operations outside Turkish waters.
The 7th generation drillship “Cagri Bey”
The “Cagri Bey” is a 7th generation ultra-deepwater drillship, approximately 228-230 meters long, 42 meters wide, with a derrick height of about 103-104 meters. It can perform drilling operations at depths up to 12,000 meters, even under high-pressure conditions, featuring a dynamic positioning system that allows it to operate in waves up to 6 meters.
Built in South Korea as Cobalt Explorer by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, it was purchased by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) in 2021, arriving at Taşucu port in Mersin in 2022.
The vessel is named after the Seljuk Turk leader Cagri Bey, father of Sultan Alp Arslan and elder brother of Tughrul Bey, founder of the Seljuk State.
🚢 Türkiye sends drillship to Somalia for 1st overseas mission
⚓ Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the drill ship Cagri Bey was dispatched to Somalia for its first mission
📌 Addressing a ceremony in Mersin for the vessel’s departure,… pic.twitter.com/sglirgyjvA
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) February 15, 2026
