"The countdown has begun. Our fleet, the symbol of our energy independence in our seas, will become stronger with its new member," Fatih Donmez stated on Twitter.

He said Kanuni will begin drilling in the Black Sea, the preparations of which are continuing. The Kanuni drillship is the third drilling ship in Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last month that some 320 billion cubic meters (11.3 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas was discovered in the Black Sea by drillship Fatih.

Maritime Business World