Turkish Deep-Sea Drillship Set To Arrive in Somalia, Marking Start of Offshore Oil Drill

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ANKARA: Somalia is set to enter a new phase in its energy sector as the Turkish government-owned drillship Çağrı Bey prepares to arrive off the country’s coast on Friday, marking the anticipated commencement of its first offshore oil drilling operations.
Çağrı Bey drillship, formerly known as West Draco, is a high-specification deep-sea drillship operated by Turkish Petroleum Corporation. Commissioned in 2024 to strengthen Türkiye’s offshore exploration capabilities, the vessel is now undertaking its first international mission in Somalia, where it is expected to carry out deepwater drilling in the Arabian Sea.
Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, confirmed the vessel’s imminent arrival, noting that it had been officially dispatched and is fully prepared to begin drilling operations in the coming days. He described the deployment as part of a broader strategic effort to accelerate oil exploration and production under a 2024 bilateral oil and gas cooperation framework.
The drilling phase follows the successful completion of offshore seismic surveys conducted last year by the Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis seismic vessel. The surveys mapped Somalia’s offshore hydrocarbon potential and identified prospective drilling locations, forming the technical foundation for the current operation.
Somalia’s Somali Petroleum Authority and its Turkish counterpart formalized their collaboration through a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed in 2025. The agreement establishes the legal and commercial framework governing exploration, development, and revenue-sharing arrangements.
The arrival of the Çağrı Bey drillship signals a significant milestone for Somalia, which has long sought to unlock its offshore oil reserves as part of broader economic recovery efforts. If viable reserves are confirmed, the development could position the country as an emerging player in the regional energy landscape.