The Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez announced that Yavuz, the Turkish drillship, was planned to start drilling for oil and gas, on Monday 7 or Tuesday 8 October in the southwest of Cyprus, an announcement that would further intensify the friction between the countries.
The Shipowner’s Club informs that the Turkish pollution fines have increased, following the latest declaration which modified the existing limits; Thus the Club has divided the fines in four categories, depending on the vessel and the quantity of pollution.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced that it signed an agreement with Tosyalı Holding (Tosyalı) to start the research toward a strategic partnership. The companies will study the potential of a collaboration in the transport of raw materials and steel products in Tosyalı’s production networks in Turkey and overseas.
The Turkish Straits, consisting of the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits and the Marmara Sea, linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, are considered one of the most strategically significant waterways of the world. However, because of the busy traffic with a considerable number of tankers carrying dangerous cargo in the Turkish Straits there are always considerable concerns for the safety of the public and the environment.
The Iranian tanker ‘Adrian Darya’, formerly known as ‘Grace 1’,which has attracted media attention for being at the centre of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran over the last month, has switched destination and is now heading to Turkey instead of southern Greece.
Two Turkish drill ships are continuing operations in the eastern Mediterranean, while another ship is expected to join them this month, said Energy Minister Fatih Donmez, amid an ongoing dispute between Turkey and Cyprus.
In light of Turkey’s continuation of illegal drilling activities and a few days after the second Turkish drill ship arrived off Cyprus, the European Council announced some preliminary sanctions against Turkey. Among others. the Council decided to suspend negotiations on the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement.
The EU plans to curb contracts and funding for Ankara, following Turkey’s, what is said to be, illegal drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus, as Reuters reports. During a meeting in Brussels the EU reported that it would introduce stricter measures against Turkey, under the condition that Ankara continues drilling operations.
Further escalating tensions among the EU and Turkey, the Turkish ship ‘Yavuz’ arrived Monday night off the island of Cyprus and it is set to drill for oil and gas, triggering a strong protest from Nicosia the EU. This comes less than a month after EU leaders warned Turkey to end its gas drilling in waters around the island.
Concerning Libyan ports, Standard P&I Club has already highlighted to ship operators that the situation remains extremely unstable. In the meantime, Al Jazeera referred to a new potential threat against Turkish flagged ships that call Libyan Ports.
