Turkey issues Navtex for natural gas pipeline surveys

Turkey has issued a maritime alert (Navtex) effective until August 30 for the research vessel Oruc Reis to conduct seismic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean. These surveys are part of a project to construct a 101-kilometer natural gas pipeline connecting Anamur, Turkey, to the northern part of Cyprus. According to Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, the pipeline will consist of a 97-kilometer underwater segment and a 4-kilometer onshore segment, terminating east of Kyrenia. The project follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on July 10. The pipeline is designed to be bidirectional, initially supplying natural gas to northern Cyprus to replace liquid fuels, with future plans to transport potential gas reserves from the region to Europe via Turkey. The deployment of the Oruc Reis has historically triggered significant geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly regarding maritime jurisdiction claims.