Turkey to produce its own seismic ship to find fuel

Turkey will produce its own seismic ship to search for natural gas and petroleum, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz has said. A deal was signed between the General Directorate of Mineral Research Exploration (MTA), the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries and the contractor that will build the ship. The ship will be built at the Tuzla shipyard in north-western Turkey with the support of local industry, said Yildiz. The ship will be equipped with the latest technology and will be used for two-dimensional and three-dimensional seismic exploration. "A growing and developing Turkey cannot have a stagnant energy sector. All areas of Turkey are growing, therefore we will conduct our exploration activities with the latest technology," Yildiz said at a ceremony organized by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries. According to Yildiz, the ship will cost roughly 100 million Euros and will be delivered to the MTA in 2014. The ship will be financed by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry with mediation from the Undersecretariat of the Defense Industries as it is expert in shipbuilding commissions.