VIDEO: Research Ship Launched in Turkey

A research vessel “TÜBİTAK Marmara” was launched in Turkey on Sunday, February 17. The launching ceremony was held at Tuzla Shipyard.

The TÜBİTAK Marmara is the first vessel of its kind built in Turkey. It will be used for scientific as well as for oil & gas exploration. The 41.2 meters long and 9.5 meters wide ship will become operational in May after all the necessary equipment is fitted on board.

After commissioning, the research ship will be used in the seas around Turkey, primarily in the Turkish Straits, to study marine pollution, to research on marine biology, to explore underwater oil fields, to monitor underwater faults and underwater pipelines as well as to give support in case of marine incidents and disasters. It will be capable of carrying out those studies in a depth of up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft).

Turkey’s booming economy has increased the country’s oil consumption, and has urged the authorities to work on unlocking its own energy resources. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Turkey imports almost all of its oil supplies. Energy use in Turkey is expected to double over the next decade, according to International Energy Agency.

In order to help the country meet its energy demand, Turkish TPAO recently acquired a state of the art seismic vessel, Polarcus Samur, which will search for oil in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Also, TPAO last week signed an offshore exploration deal with Shell under which the Anglo/Dutch giant will drill at least one well in the Turkish sector of the Black Sea, which could hold between 7 and 10 billion barrels of oil.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff , February 19, 2013