Çağrı Bey is Counting Down to This Historic Mission

Türkiye, which has recently accelerated both domestic exploration and production operations as well as its overseas operations, has begun the countdown to conduct exploration drilling in Somalia. 

Oruç Reis Collected Data
The operations in Somalia were shaped by the research conducted by the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel over a period of 234 days in the region. Launched from the Bosphorus Strait to Somalia by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on October 5, 2024, Oruç Reis collected data across a total area of 4,464 square kilometers in three separate offshore blocks in Somalia during this period. Following the analysis and interpretation of the data, a decision was made to conduct drilling operations at a designated location. 

Arriving in Somalia After 53 Days 
Following the drilling decision, Çağrı Bey, one of the energy fleet’s new deep-sea drilling vessels, set sail for Somalia on February 15. Çağrı Bey is expected to arrive at the Port of Mogadishu on Friday, at the end of its planned 53-day voyage. 

Minister Bayraktar to Be in Somalia
A ceremony will be held at the Port of Mogadishu for the Çağrı Bey Drilling Vessel, which will carry out Türkiye’s first deep-sea exploration drilling abroad. In addition to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, the ceremony will be attended by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed, and Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur. Following the ceremony, the Çağrı Bey will set sail for its drilling location.

CURAD-1 Well
The well, located 372 kilometers from Mogadishu where the Çağrı Bey will begin drilling, takes its name from “Curad,” which means “the first baby born into a family” in Somali. The Çağrı Bey Drilling Vessel will drill to a total depth of 7,500 meters, reaching that depth after drilling 4,005 meters from the seabed at a point with a water depth of 3,495 meters. The goal is for the CURAD-1 well to become the world’s second-deepest offshore well at this 7,500-meter depth. 

288 Days of Drilling
The drilling operations of the Çağrı Bey Drilling Vessel in Somalia are planned to last a total of 288 days. During this mission, the support vessels Altan, Korkut, and Sancar from the energy fleet will accompany the Çağrı Bey. A total of 500 field personnel will rotate through the drilling operations, with 180 on the Çağrı Bey, 60 on the support vessels, and 10 in shore-based services. Additionally, naval assets comprising the TCG Sancaktar, TCG Gökova, and TCG Bafra will provide support to the Çağrı Bey to ensure safe operations. 

The Vision of Becoming a Game-Changer
In his remarks on the matter, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated, “Çağrı Bey, the new and powerful addition to our energy fleet, our deep-sea drilling vessel, will begin operations in the waters of our friendly and brotherly nation, Somalia, to carry out our country’s first deep-sea exploration drilling abroad. ‘Çağrı Bey’s historic mission is the most concrete manifestation of Türkiye’s vision to become a global game-changer and a powerful actor in the energy sector,’ he said.

Serving the Prosperity of Both Nations
Noting that they have crowned the relations between Türkiye and Somalia—rooted in historical ties and built on mutual trust and brotherhood—with this strategic cooperation in the energy sector, Minister Bayraktar said, “This joint effort with Somalia will serve the prosperity of both nations and further strengthen the brotherhood between our countries. “With the hope of achieving positive results, I wish this drilling operation to bring blessings to our country and our Somali brothers and sisters. May the bow of our vessel Çağrı Bey be clear, its rudder steady, and the wind favorable,” he said.