Turkey announced Friday it planned to carry out seismic surveys in the eastern Mediterranean until December 16, 2021.
According to a navigational warning, Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis, accompanied by Ataman and Cengizhan, will be carrying out seismic surveys of the area between Antalya and Cyprus.
The move follows the harassment of Maltese-flagged Nautical Geo, which had been carrying out surveys inside Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, under the excuse it was violating the Turkish continental shelf.
The Nautical Geo was surveying the area between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete for the EastMed pipeline project before it was chased away by Turkish navy vessels.