Famous Fenerbahçe ferry blows its last foghorn
Güncelleme Tarihi:
ISTANBUL - Istanbul’s Bosphorus is famous for its ferries that have been operating since 1837. They are one of the symbols of Istanbul, yet, the historic ferry Fenerbahçe had its last expedition Monday.
"The ferries are one of the most distinctive elements of Istanbul. They are to Istanbul what gondolas are to Venice and what red buses are to London, " the mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbaş, said during the farewell ceremony held for the historic ferry Fenerbahçe on Monday.
The historic ferry, built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1952, started its journey on the Marmara Sea on May 14, 1953, and served the Kadıköy-Yalova-Prince’s Islands routes. From now on, it will be displayed in the Rahmi Koç Museum, dedicated to the history of transportation and industry.
Rahmi Koç, the founder of the museum, was also present at the ceremony. "Ships are like people, they are born, they grow, they serve and they die or go out of service," Koç said in his speech at the ceremony. "
But I am very proud this ship will continue its life at our museum and be accessible to the people of Istanbul." Aziz Yıldırım, president of the Fenerbahçe Sports Club and Fenerbahçe football player Emre Belezoğlu also attended the ceremony.
Aside from the famous football player, many former passengers who wished to accompany the Fenerbahçe ferry on its final journey were there for the farewell. Among them was Ahmet Öztürk, who had many memories aboard the retiring ferry. "My wife and I took this ferry every weekday in the 1960s to go to work. I am just glad that this ship will not be left to its fate but be preserved," he said.
Yaşar Çakır, who has been the captain of the ferry for the last 10 years, was nostalgic on the ship’s final day on the sea. "There are not many ships like this one anymore... It takes a certain familiarity with old technology to operate them. Over the years this ferry has become like a child of mine," he said.
After giving speeches, Topbaş and Koç signed a protocol entrusting the ship to the care of the Rahmi Koç Museum. The ferry then took off for its final journey around the Bosphorus, frequently blowing its sirens and saying goodbye to the people of Istanbul who waved from the shore.