Turkish research vessel docks at port after East Med survey

Turkish research vessel at heart of an energy dispute between Turkey and Greece is back at port. In a tweet, Monday, Turkey’s energy ministry said Oruc Reis had returned to port in Antalya after completing two-dimensional seismic research in Demre field. Ship tracker MarineTraffic showed survey ship had docked.

Tensions between two neighbors and minal NATO allies escalated over summer with a military build-up after Turkey sent survey ship, escorted by navy frigates, into disputed waters in Eastern Mediterranean. move prompted Greece to also send its warships, and both countries conducted military exercises to assert ir claims. NATO intervened, organizing technical talks between two countries’ militaries to prevent a potential armed conflict.

Ankara says Greek and Greek Cypriot governments are impinging on energy rights of Turkey and breakaway rrn Cyprus by setting maritime boundaries according to ir own interests and attempting to exclude Turkey from potential oil and gas reserves.

Turkey says maritime boundaries for hydrocarbon resources should be calculated from mainland but Greece says continental shelves of its islands dotting Mediterranean should be included within its energy zone. competing claims have led to a diplomatic crisis and aggressive rhetoric. European Union members Greece and Cyprus, along with France, have called for sanctions on Turkey

Oruc Reis was pulled back to port in September for maintenance and resupply. Turkish officials said it was withdrawn from Greek-claimed waters to give diplomacy a chance. It was redeployed in October after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Ans of failing to fulfill promises. EU leaders are meeting for a summit on Dec. 10-11 and are expected to discuss dispute and possible sanctions. 

(Im Credits: AP)