Türkiye Launches Historic Deep-Sea Energy Mission as Cagri Bey Drillship Reaches Somali Waters for 288-Day Campaign

Türkiye's Cagri Bey drillship arrives in Somalia for a historic 7,500m deep-sea mission. Minister Bayraktar hails the first overseas drilling operation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 9:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Yeni Şafak English

Historic Arrival of the Cagri Bey

Türkiye has officially expanded its energy exploration footprint into the international arena with the arrival of the Cagri Bey drillship off the coast of Somalia. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed the vessel’s arrival on social media, noting that the ship reached its destination ahead of the previously projected Friday timeline. This deployment signifies the start of a historic deep-sea mission that represents a major technological and strategic milestone for both Ankara and Mogadishu.

The Curad-1 Deep-Sea Campaign

The drilling operation is centered on the Curad-1 well, where the Cagri Bey is scheduled to conduct a rigorous 288-day exploration campaign. Operating at extreme depths of approximately 7,500 metres, the mission is one of the most ambitious deep-sea projects undertaken by a Turkish vessel. This technical endeavor is designed to provide the first comprehensive look at the Horn of Africa’s offshore energy capacity, utilizing Türkiye’s state-of-the-art drilling technology to penetrate the seabed.

Framework of Turkish-Somali Energy Cooperation

This mission is the direct result of a series of comprehensive hydrocarbon exploration agreements signed between the two nations in 2024. These pacts cover both onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration, providing a legal and strategic framework for long-term cooperation. Prior to the arrival of the Cagri Bey, the seismic vessel Oruç Reis conducted extensive surveys across three offshore blocks, providing the critical data necessary to identify the Curad-1 drilling site.