RV K. Piri Reis

The RV K. Piri Reis (full name Koca Piri Reis) is a Turkish multi purpose research vessel owned by Dokuz Eylül University in İzmir and operated by its Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology. Built in West Germany and launched in 1978, she was named in honor of the Ottoman naval captain and renowned cartographer Piri Reis.

History
Turkey
Name: K. Piri Reis
Namesake: Piri Reis
Owner: Dokuz Eylül University
Operator: Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology
Builder: Schiffswerft Diedrich, West Germany
Launched: June 1978
Homeport: Urla, İzmir
Identification:
Status: In active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Oceanographic research ship
Tonnage:
Length: 36 m (118 ft 1 in)
Beam: 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Draft: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) (max.)
Installed power: 610 hp (450 kW)
Propulsion: Diesel engine
Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h) (service)
Endurance: 20 days autonomous
Complement: 11 scientists
Crew: 10
Armament: None

Characteristics

K. Piri Reis was built in June 1978 at the Schiffswerft Diedrich Oldersum in West Germany. She is 36 m (118 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in) and a draught of 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in). Assessed at 289 GT and 87 NRT, the ship is propelled by a 610 hp (450 kW) MWM Suddeutsche Brimsen AG MWM TD 602 V12 diesel engine. She has a speed of 9 knots (17 km/h) in service.[1][2]

The ship's crew consists of 10 seamen, and she carries 11 scientists aboard. K. Piri Reis has an autonomous endurance of 20 days.[1]

Scientific work

The ship is equipped with modern instruments and a laboratory to carry out research work in various fields like oceanography,[3][4] marine biology,[5] undersea geology,[6] geophysics for oil and gas exploration and earthquake engineering.[7][8][9]

Political dimension of her activity

The research activities performed by the vessel have sometimes beside its scientific and economic dimensions also political extent with diplomatic or military tone.[9]

She was sent in 1987 to Aegean Sea after Greece announced that it will start oil and gas exploration in the region. As Greece declared to intervene, Turkey responded that this would be cause of war. The tension calmed down later with mediation efforts of NATO and the United States.[9]

2011 Eastern Mediterranean mission

Following the decision of the Cyprus government to start an initiative for oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey signed an agreement with Northern Cyprus to do the same within Northern Cyprus' territorial waters.[10] For this purpose, K. Piri Reis, which was commissioned by the Turkish government to conduct research work, departed on September 23, 2011 from its homeport in Urla, İzmir Province and headed for Eastern Mediterranean.[9]

See also

References
  1. "R/V K.Piri Reis". Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi-Deniz Bilimleri ve Teknolojisi Enstitüsü. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  2. "Koca Piri Reis". Marine Traffic. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  3. "The Bosphorus". Tour Operator Istanbul. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  4. Hay, Bernward et al. (April 1989). "Particle Deposition In the Present And Holcene Black Sea". Oceanography. Retrieved 2011-09-24.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  5. Chendeş, Cl. et al. (2004). "The Response Of Modern Benthic Foraminiferal Assemblages To Water-Mass Properties Along The Southern Shelf Of The Marmara Sea". Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae. 4: 69–80. Retrieved 2011-09-24.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  6. Spencer, Karin (2007-09-12). "Journey To The Depths". The Weekend Telegram. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  7. Koral, H et al. (2001). "Major Recent Tectonic Uplift In Iskenderun Bay, Turkey". Radiocarbon. 43: 257–263. Retrieved 2011-09-24.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  8. Günel, İbrahim (2011-05-11). "The Fukushima disaster and Turkish media's trial by fire-The geology of the Ecemiş and Kozan Fault Lines and the sea area south of the Central Taurus Mountains". Heinrich Böll Stiftung. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  9. "Koca Piri Reis Gemisi yola çıktı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  10. "Minister gives Cyprus confrontation signals". Dünya. 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
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