We hosted the majestic Halas 71, one of the oldest ships sailing in Turkish waters, in Antalya marina. We wandered through its corridors full of history and elegance.

 

Funda Sönmez, Setur Marinas Antalya Accounting Manager

 

Built in 1914 by Fairfield Shipping Co. as a passenger ferry in Glasgow, Scotland, and named M/S Reşit Paşa at the time, Halas 71, the oldest and most beautiful ship in the Bosphorus, has been swaying like a bride in the deep blue waters for over 100 years.

 

 

Halas 71 has a very interesting story and many different lives.

 

Confiscated by the British during the First World War, the ship's previous name was "Waterwic". In other words, "Water Witch". Used as a transport ship in 1915, the ship entered Ottoman waters at the end of the First World War and continued to serve under British troops for four years.

 

Transferred in 1923 to Şirket-i Hayriye with the proclamation of the Republic, the name of the ship was changed to "Halas", which means "Salvation". Another special feature of Halas is that she is the only one of the ships that participated in the Gallipoli Naval Operation that is still operational.

 

 

Having carried passengers on the Bosphorus for 65 years, Halas was purchased by Haldun and Çiğdem Simavi in 1984 and converted into a luxury charter ship.  Transferred in 2008 to Mustafa and Caroline Koç, the ship is now in its present form after a two-year renovation process.

 

Listed in 2017 in the 'National Historic Ships of the United Kingdom' catalog and registered as a historic asset, the ship has 12 cabins ranging in size from 12.3 m2 to 43 m2. Hosting special events on the Bosphorus with a crew of six today, Halas 71 can also be chartered as a luxury charter.

 

 

Among the names Halas 71 hosted in its 100 years of life are King Charles III of England (former Prince of Wales), Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Prince Michael of Kent, former French President François Mitterand, former US Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, former Turkish Presidents Turgut Özal, Süleyman Demirel and Abdullah Gül.

 

Wandering the corridors of Halas 71, one cannot help but wonder what conversations and stories this century-old ship has entertained so far.

 

Photographs: Funda Sönmez, Ozan Koç, Fatih Tan