Drilling vessel Fatih to set sail this week for first mission in Mediterranean

ISTANBUL

Turkey’s drilling vessel Fatih will commence its first mission this week.

“The vessel will carry out drilling work in the Mediterranean. God willing, we will add another drilling vessel to our fleet,” Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez told journalists on the margins of the 8th Energy Summit held in the southern province of Antalya.

Fatih will carry out its drilling work under the protection of Turkish navy ships off the coast of Antalya in the exclusive economic zone east of Cyprus.

The 229-meter-long Fatih was built by South Korea in 2011. More than 200 Turkish and international experts will be on board during its mission.

Fatih is scheduled to set sail at a time when tension between Turkey and Greece is rising over natural reserves and drilling activities in the Mediterranean Sea.

State-run Anadolu Agency reported Oct. 18 that Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa, a Turkish seismic and drilling vessel, was harassed by a Greek frigate during its ongoing probe off Cyprus’ coast.

Turkey will never allow another harassment of any Turkish ship in the Eastern Mediterranean, the country’s defense minister said on Oct. 24.

“Our warships in the region are providing the necessary protection. We will never allow a new harassment,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar had warned.