Saddam’s yacht turned into a research center

The yacht, which was specially designed in Denmark at the request of Iraq’s ousted leader Saddam Hussein, is used as a marine science research center in Basra, where it is anchored today.

Although named after Saddam, construction of the yacht, which the ousted leader never set foot on, began in Denmark in 1980 and was completed a year later. The private yacht could not be taken to Iraq due to the 8-year Iraq-Iran War and then the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein later gifted the yacht to the then King of Saudi Arabia, Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

Although the fascinating yacht was called “Kadisiye Yacht” at the time, it is now known as “Basra Breeze Yacht”.

4 FLOORS AND 18 ROOMS

The yacht, which is furnished with very valuable furniture, consists of 18 rooms and 4 floors. There’s even a hairdresser, dry cleaner, and first aid room on the 82-meter-long yacht.

The yacht, which Saddam was barred from entering the country, was only brought to Basra in 2010. Amir Abduccebar, the Minister of Transport at the time, announced that Saddam had this yacht built for special purposes and brought into the country because it was state owned. .

A marine exploration tour with the yacht was carried out for the first time in 2015 as part of a project developed by Iraqi and German scientists. Today, Saddam’s private yacht, which is moored at Shattularap, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet, is used as the Scientific Research Center of the Basra University Institution of Marine Sciences.

The yacht is also open to domestic and foreign tourists. Gulf citizens who came to Basra as part of the 25th Gulf Cup, which was completed last week, showed great interest in the yacht. Gulf residents shared the photos and videos they took on the yacht they visited widely on social media. (AA)