Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa vessel begins energy exploration off Trabzon

Turkey’s first seismic research vessel, Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa, has commenced oil and natural gas exploration and seismic data collection off the coast of Trabzon. Operating under a project by Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı (TPAO), the vessel has shifted its focus to the Eastern Black Sea following previous activities in the Western Black Sea.

The mission involves examining the geological structure of the seabed to assess energy potential. Planned operations are expected to continue between Tirebolu and Rize during the period from October 2026 to June 2027.

Due to the technical requirements of the research, the vessel will deploy six separate cables, each 8.7 kilometers long, creating a total equipment width of 600 meters. Because the ship cannot perform sudden maneuvers or stops while deploying this equipment, authorities have issued a warning to fishing vessels to maintain a distance of at least 6 nautical miles from the ship and its trailing gear. Local fishing cooperatives have been notified of the specific coordinates for the work area between Tirebolu and Hopa.