10.04.2026 13:40
The Çağrı Bey Drillship reached Somalia after a 53-day journey, marking Turkey's first overseas deep-sea drilling mission. The Somali people flocked to the shore to greet the ship with great enthusiasm. Çağrı Bey is expected to conduct drilling in the region for 288 days.
Turkey's first overseas deep-sea drilling initiative, the Çağrı Bey drilling ship, set sail from Mersin Taşucu Port on February 15 and reached Somalia after a long journey of 53 days. The ship, which crossed the Mediterranean, passed through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic Ocean, and rounded the Cape of Good Hope, was greeted with great enthusiasm by the local people on the shores of Somalia.
LOCAL PEOPLE RUSHED TO THE BEACH
A crowd excitedly rushing to the beach welcomed the Çağrı Bey, which is expected to drill in the region for 288 days. The interest of the crowd gathered on the beach was reflected in the cameras, and those moments quickly went viral on social media.
"BISMILLAH"
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced that the Çağrı Bey deep-sea drilling ship has reached Somalia.
In a post on his social media account, Minister Bayraktar stated, "We are opening a brand new chapter in the energy history of both Turkey and Somalia. We say 'Bismillah' for our first overseas deep-sea drilling that transcends our borders."
SET SAIL ON FEBRUARY 15
Çağrı Bey set sail from Mersin Taşucu Port on February 15 to carry out Turkey's first deep-sea exploration drilling abroad in Somalia.
The ship crossed the Mediterranean from end to end, opened into the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar, and then followed the West African coast, passing the Cape of Good Hope, ultimately reaching Somalia after a planned 53-day voyage.
Çağrı Bey, named after "Curad," which means the first baby born in the family in Somalia, will work at the CURAD-1 well located 372 kilometers off the coast of Mogadishu.
The ship will drill to a total depth of 7,500 meters, starting from a water depth of 3,495 meters and digging 4,005 meters from the seabed. The CURAD-1 well is expected to become the second deepest sea well in the world at this depth of 7,500 meters.
DRILLING OPERATIONS EXPECTED TO LAST 288 DAYS
Çağrı Bey, which was completed in 2024 in South Korea and joined Turkey's energy fleet, can drill up to 12,000 meters in deep water.
The ship, referred to as a "7th generation ultra-deepwater drilling vessel," is 228 meters long, 114 meters high, and 42 meters wide. Equipped with a helicopter pad, the ship provides living space for 200 personnel.
The total duration of the drilling operations is planned to be 288 days. The support vessels Altan, Korkut, and Sancar from the energy fleet will accompany Çağrı Bey on its mission. Additionally, naval elements consisting of TCG Sancaktar, TCG Gökova, and TCG Bafra will also support Çağrı Bey to ensure safe operations.
Moreover, a total of 500 field personnel will be assigned on a rotational basis, including 180 on Çağrı Bey, 60 on support vessels, and 10 on land services.
ÇAĞRI BEY WILL BE WELCOMED WITH A CEREMONY AT MOGADISHU PORT
A welcoming ceremony will be held for Çağrı Bey tomorrow at Mogadishu Port. In addition to Minister Bayraktar, Somali President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed, and Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur will also participate in the ceremony.
After the welcoming ceremony, Çağrı Bey will head towards the CURAD-1 well where it will operate, and it is expected to take 1-2 days for the ship to reach the well location, which is 372 kilometers off Mogadishu. Once the ship arrives at the well location, it will carry out positioning operations. After positioning is completed, various tests related to the drilling process will be conducted first.
The operations in Somalia were shaped by the 234 days of research conducted by the Oruç Reis Seismic Research Vessel in the region. The Oruç Reis, which was sent off to Somalia from the Bosphorus by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on October 5, 2024, collected data in a total area of 4,464 square kilometers across three separate marine blocks in Somalia during this process. After analyzing and interpreting the data, a decision was made to conduct drilling operations at a determined location.