Turkish Drillship to Continue Operating in Disputed Waters off Cyprus Until Mid-Oct

Ece Toksaba
Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Turkey said on Tuesday it had extended the operations of its Yavuz energy drillship in disputed Mediterranean waters off Cyprus until Oct. 12, in a move that could stir tension between the Greek Cypriot government and Ankara.

Yavuz will be accompanied by three other Turkish ships, according to a maritime notice that added "all vessels are strongly advised not to enter" the area. 

Cyprus' internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government has long been at loggerheads with Turkey, which began drilling for oil and gas near Cyprus last year.

The island was split after a 1974 Turkish invasion spurred by a brief coup engineered by the military then ruling Greece. A breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus is recognized only by Ankara.

Turkey questions Cyprus' right to explore in the seas around the island because it maintains that the Nicosia administration does not represent the interests of Turkish Cypriots.

That argument is dismissed by Cyprus, which is legally recognized as representing the entire island.

In a separate dispute between Turkey and Greece, the two countries are at odds over the delimitation of their continental shelves.

Greece said on Tuesday it was ready for talks with Turkey following the withdrawal of a Turkish exploration vessel from a disputed region.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Ali Kucukgocmen and Jan Harvey)


Credit: MarineTraffic 



Categories: Energy Deepwater Drilling Activity Europe Mediterranean Sea

Related Stories

Aker BP Bites Dust in North Sea

Dolphin Drilling’s Chief Steps Down

Odfjell Drilling Secures $148M Extension with Equinor for Deepsea Atlantic Rig

Current News

Malaysia's Petronas Plans Job Cuts

Louis Dreyfus, Tidal Transit JV to Supply CTV for French Offshore Wind Farm

RWE's 302MW Offshore Wind Farm to Help Balance German Power Grid

TotalEnergies Starts Drilling Ops Offshore Namibia

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News