GEBZE, Turkey — Turkey on Thursday sent a new ship to search for oil and gas off Cyprus, in a move expected to escalate tensions after the EU called on Ankara to stop its "illegal drilling activities".

The region near the divided island is believed to have rich natural gas deposits, triggering a race between Turkey and Cyprus's internationally recognized government, which also plans to ramp up its exploratory activities in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish officials said the new vessel is the 229-meter-long (750-feet) Yavuz, which has previously drilled in the waters off several countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Malaysia.

Reporters were taken on board the vessel docked in the port of Dilovasi near Gebze, southeast of Istanbul, before it sailed.

It carried the colors of the Turkish flag — a white crescent and a star on a red background.

The European Union on Tuesday lashed out at Turkey over its plans to drill in the area, warning it was preparing "appropriate measures" in response.

But Turkey remained defiant, with Energy Minister Fatih Donmez saying that Ankara's search for hydrocarbon reserves would continue "uninterrupted."

"We will continue the drilling activities that derive from our own legitimate rights uninterrupted," he told journalists at the port, after inspecting the ship.

The EU's appeal came after Turkey's first drilling vessel, Fatih, started searching for gas and oil in the waters considered part of Cyprus's exclusive economic zone.

Cyprus has issued arrest warrants for Fatih's crew members, accusing the ship of breaching the republic's sovereign territory.

The island has been divided between the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus and the northern third under Turkish military control since 1974, formed after Ankara's troops occupied the area in response to a coup sponsored by the Greek military junta.

Donmez in turn accused Cyprus of "hiding behind the EU" to pursue its interests, saying that Nicosia "cannot have any say on any issue that concerns the entire island."

He also warned outside actors, without naming them, not to run after "illusions" and "not to be part of unlawful plans."

A message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan read out during the ceremony before the ship set sail for Cyprus said: "I believe we will receive good news soon" from the Turkish drilling ships.

Cyprus's order of arrest warrants for Fatih's crew drew the wrath of the Turkish leader.

"They will apparently arrest our boats' personnel. You will come off badly if you do so," Erdogan said at the weekend.

He added that Turkey would not back down from searching for gas "in those areas that are ours".

Ankara says its actions abide by international law and that it is drilling inside its continental shelf. It granted exploration licenses to Turkish Petroleum in 2009 and 2012.

Turkey opposes unilateral moves of exploration activities by EU member Cyprus off the Mediterranean and says Turkish Cypriots have rights to a share of the island's offshore resources.

Last month, Brussels and the United States urged Turkey to reconsider plans to start exploratory drilling off the island.

Energy giants Total of France and Italy's ENI are heavily involved in exploring for oil and gas off Cyprus as is ExxonMobil of the US. — AFP