Fourth Turkish drilling ship begins energy exploration in Mediterranean

Turkey’s fourth drilling ship set sail today as the country continues to pursue its offshore energy exploration. 

The Abdulhamid Han will conduct a two-month mission in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The ship is considered the strongest of the country’s fleet, the official Anadolu Agency reported. 

The ship-tracking website MarineTraffic showed the Abdulhamid Han off the coast of Ayvacik, Turkey, between Turkey and Cyprus at about 9:00 pm local time. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the ship will explore an undisputed area in a speech today.

Why it matters: Turkey sent a drilling ship to parts of the Mediterranean Sea claimed by Greece in 2018 and began conducting exploration in maritime territory claimed by Cyprus in 2019. Turkey halted the activities ahead of dialogue with Greece that began in early 2021. 

Turkey's dialogue with Greece ended in May of this year, and now tensions are on the rise again. Leaders of both states exchanged subtle threats in June. 

Turkey purchased the Abdulhamid Han, then known under a different name, from a South Korean company last year. It set sail for Turkey in March. 

The tensions between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey have been followed by some of Turkey’s regional rivals growing closer to the southern European states. In June, Egyptian military leaders met with their Greek and Cypriot counterparts to discuss military cooperation. In May, the United Arab Emirates and Greece signed a $4.2 billion investment agreement. Last December, then-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett hosted Greek and Cypriot leaders for a meeting on their security alliance. 

Know more: Turkey gets its energy from a variety of energy sources. In 2021, Turkey's use of coal and water for energy decreased, while renewable energy and gas increased.