Turkey launches first 'homegrown' seismic ship

The first Turkish-made seismic-survey vessel, Turkuaz, which cost 300 million Turkish Liras ($115 million), was launched on March 26 in Istanbul.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said at a ceremony that the new vessel holds great importance for Turkey?s economic and political interests.

?The vessel will increase our gas and oil search potential in the region, in addition to searching for potential mining areas in our seas,? Y?ld?z said.

In addition to oil and gas search activities, Turkuaz will also carry out climate change and ecological research under the state-owned General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration.

It will also perform comprehensive underwater search activities with a remote-controlled system.

Turkuaz, at 86 meters long and 23 meters wide, will serve for at least 30 years with 50-person crew. It has the capacity to operate uninterrupted for 35 days away from land.