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Tito's yacht Galeb to become a museum

The yacht used by Marshal Tito when he was leader of Yugoslavia is to be turned into a museum after a lengthy battle that saw her fall into disrepair.

After Tito's death, ownership of yacht Galeb  (which means seagull in Croatian) was transferred to the Montenegrin government following the break up of Yugoslavia. It was sold to Greek billionaire John Paul Papanicolaou, who owned Christina O , but was seized by the Croatian government over a decade ago after he failed to cover berthing costs.

When  Galeb  was to be auctioned by the state a decade ago, she was asking £85,000 as the starting price. Had she been sold as scrap, she would have fetched at least £155,000 – but her cultural heritage status meant she had to remain intact.

Her owner, Papanicolaou, objected to this and took the case to the Supreme Court. Over 10 years later, she was bought by the city of Rijeka, which recently announced plans to turn her into a floating museum at a cost of £8M.

Galeb  has a lot of cultural importance. When Tito was at the helm of the Yugoslav state he was said to have enjoyed the trappings of his position, of which Galeb was a manifestation. The ship was built in Genoa in 1938 and started life as an auxiliary cruiser under another name. Fast forward a few years and she became a school ship for the Yugoslav navy after she was refurbished following bombing damage in the Second World War.

It was at this point Tito commandeered the ship for his personal use on state matters. Tito is said to have entertained over 100 world statesmen and women on board Galeb , some of whom, such as Colonel Gaddifi of Libya, time has dictated, will occupy a historical rogue’s gallery. Tito was not averse to a touch of Hollywood glamour, too, as he welcomed Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at the height of their fame.

Galeb  also graced the Thames, mooring at Greenwich, on Tito’s state visit to the UK in 1953, the first by a communist leader.

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Tito's yacht glides towards a controversial refurb

There are plans to salvage Tito's yacht from rust and turn it into a floating museum. Justin McDonnell looks at the controversial flight of The Seagull

Rijeka’s seafront is a patchwork of old factories, rain-smeared Italianate townhouses and a giant, rusting hulk of a ship that soars above all.

Fenced off and left to rust on Rijeka’s central marina, Galeb (The Seagull) was once the presidential yacht of Marshal Josip Broz Tito. A floating home from home, Tito used the boat for glamorous parties and official state visits.

Born in 1892 to a Croat father and Slovene mother, Tito ruled Yugoslavia from the end of WW11 until his death in 1980. His legacy is divisive: some consider Tito the hero partisan who waged war against the Nazis; others remember him as a murderous dictator.

Marshal Josip Broz Tito at Galeb

Built in 1938 in Genoa, The Galeb was originally designed to ship fruit between Africa and Italy. Appropriated by the Italians during the war, it was attacked by the British in 1941 and sunk by Allied forces in 1944. Retrieved from the Adriatic seabed, it was later repurposed as the grand presidential yacht of Josip Tito.

The 385ft-long ship ferried Tito around the Adriatic and beyond, and played host to statesmen, tycoons and the rich and famous. Conjuring fantasy dinner party-levels of stardom, the boat courted Tito’s celebrity friends Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and political figures as diverse as Gandhi and Gaddafi.

Galeb - The Seagull

Unlike his former communist comrades in the Eastern Bloc, Tito imagined his Yugoslavia as an outward-facing socialist republic, one that prized itself on its openness to the world. The ship was a majestic sign of wealth and an extension of his regime. At home, the yacht was lionised in state media as a symbol of Yugoslavia’s respectable standing on the international stage. It garnered international attention when the yacht steered Tito to the River Thames to meet Winston Churchill. A historical milestone, the event marked the first visit to the United Kingdom by a communist head of state.

Marshal Josip Broz Tito and Winston Churchill

After Tito’s death, Yugoslavia disintegrated and collapsed into a bloody civil war that would cost over 100,000 lives. Over time, Croatia took a more jaundiced view of The Seagull.

The boat was nearly relegated to maritime history. Taken over by the Montenegrins and sold to a Greek yachtsman, The Seagull reared its beak in Croatia once more when he sent the ship to Rijeka to be repaired. He couldn’t afford the bills, and the boat was claimed by the local authorities.

Galeb  - The Seagull in 2018

The battered ship lay dormant on the banks of Rijeka, occasionally used for impromptu parties and the odd exhibition but struggled to find real purpose. Later, the left-leaning mayor of Rijeka revealed his plans to salvage The Seagull. During an intense political atmosphere, when a conservative government set about stripping streets, squares and parks of Tito’s name, this chaffed against popular opinion.

But Rijeka saw promise in this rotting hull. The mayor unfurled his vision of the new museum, expected to be a sensitive, honest depiction of Tito’s legacy, free from idolatry or resentment. The museum will preserve the original features of Tito’s floating living quarters, from the hairpin-legged tables to his pink mattress and veneered-teak panelling that was the apex of chic in the ‘50s.

As the city scrubs up for the European Capital of Culture 2020, Rijeka has designated 4.5 million euro for the boat's refurb. Headed by Nikolina Jelavić Mitrović, an architect responsible for the spellbindingly beautiful Apoxymenos Museum on the island of Lošinj, the museum is only one aspect of this ambitious project. On the lower deck, a hostel with bull's-eye windows will host seafaring guests, with a capacious restaurant and bar set on the second level. There's also talk of an outdoor cinema and everything from a barber shop to an ice-cream parlour. Whatever you might think of Tito, the historical flight The Seagull isn't over yet.

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Tito's restored former flagship to become hotel and museum in Croatia

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RIJEKA, Croatia (Reuters) - The restored flagship of former Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito is being converted into a hotel and a museum devoted to its turbulent history, from banana boat to meeting place for world statesmen.

Berthed in Croatia's Adriatic port of Rijeka, the Galeb (Seagull) will open to the public in its new role next year.

The ship was built in 1938 in Italy to transport bananas from Africa. During World War Two, it was used first by the Italian navy and then by the Germans and it was sunk by Allied planes at the end of the war.

In communist Yugoslavia, it was retrieved and converted into a yacht used by Tito for his many journeys across the globe.

During that time, Galeb hosted more than 70 statesmen - kings, presidents and prime ministers - and played an important role for the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War era.

Tito died in 1980 and following the collapse of Yugoslavia in the Balkans wars of the 1990s, Galeb was left to rust until the city of Rijeka decided to buy it.

"I expect the ship to be completed for its new purpose in the first half of 2021," Rijeka mayor Vojko Obersnel told Reuters.

"Its command deck, the premises used by Tito and the engine room will become a museum. The other parts of the ship will serve as a hotel with bars and a restaurant," he said.

The work on the ship, which is now located in Kraljevica shipyard near Rijeka, cost about 60 million kuna ($9.6 million), half of which was granted from European Union funds.

Obersnel said he expected a strong interest in visiting the ship, both from home and abroad, once it finally anchors in the Rijeka dock.

"A few years ago, when the ship was in a poor condition, we organised an exhibition which was visited by 15,000 people. It is part of our and international history," Obersnel said.

(Reporting by Antonio Bronic and Igor Ilic, editing by Angus MacSwan)

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Banking on Tito’s Yacht to Steer a Cultural Renaissance

Rijeka, Croatia, anointed a European capital of culture, wants to restore and showcase the rusting boat used by the Yugoslav leader, but far-right nationalists are outraged.

By Barbara Surk

RIJEKA, Croatia — Once an industrial hub, the port city of Rijeka, on the edge of the Kvarner Bay, has grand ambitions to transform itself into a bustling art center as it embarks on the path to become a European “capital of culture.”

The aspirational title was bestowed by the European Union on Rijeka, Croatia’s third-largest city, as part of a campaign to celebrate the diversity of the bloc’s 28 members, and it has sent the city on the Adriatic Sea on a refurbishing spree.

Officials are sparing no expense, setting aside about 20 million euros to transform the city’s decaying infrastructure, and they are considering allocating €30 million to finance a yearlong cultural rejuvenation.

As a symbolic centerpiece of the makeover, they have plucked a maritime relic from Croatia’s past to restore and to showcase: a nearly 80-year-old ship named Galeb, or Seagull, that belonged to the Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito. Once a prized vessel of the Yugoslav Navy, which used it as a training boat, it has been rusting at the city’s port for years.

The Seagull now carries the hopes of a city struggling to revive its economy after the near-collapse of the heavy industry and manufacturing sectors in the late 1980s. If officials have their way, Tito’s boat will become a museum to display the complex history of Rijeka and serve as a point of pride for the nation.

But Tito’s controversial legacy is threatening that plan. Far-right nationalists, who have surged into Croatia’s political mainstream in recent years, vehemently oppose it. They are determined to bury Tito’s Communist history and revive the narrative of the country’s Nazi-allied regime during World War II.

Feared and revered in his day , Tito is described by some as a hero of the anti-fascist struggle who kept Yugoslavia’s six republics, including Croatia, together for more than 35 years. Others call him a Communist dictator who purged his enemies .

Tito used the yacht, built in 1938 in Genoa, Italy, as his floating residence, Yugoslavia’s embassy and a party boat. He hosted soirees on it for world leaders and Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

He made 49 voyages on the vessel to four continents as Yugoslavia’s president, including a state visit in 1953 to Britain, where he met Winston Churchill as the first Communist leader after World War II. The boat was also the incubator for a Tito idea: the Nonaligned Movement, a bloc of countries outside the spheres of influence of the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

To some liberal politicians in Croatia, the restored yacht, 380 feet long, would be the perfect symbol of Tito’s ties to the city and the region. But far-right nationalists equate Tito with an oppressive Yugoslavia, which violently disintegrated after his death in 1980 at 87.

Nationalists want to wipe his name from textbooks. Zlatko Hasanbegovic, a former Croatian culture minister and an ultranationalist, led a successful campaign to strip the central square in Zagreb, the capital, of Tito’s name.

The dispute in some ways echoes the debate in the United States over Confederate statues and what to do with relics of the past. But not everyone is falling in line with Croatia’s nationalists .

Looking out over the pier at the Rijeka Port recently, Zlatko Marencic, 60, who works in the shipping industry, spoke with a tinge of nostalgia about life under Tito. He said:

“Everything was better in Yugoslavia when the old man was running the country . Some say he was a dictator and it was a time of darkness. I say it was the time of peace.”

Denis Romac, a political correspondent for the newspaper Novi List in Rijeka, said the “raging opposition to preserving Galeb and the remains of Tito’s diplomacy on the sea” was rooted in jealousy over his enduring legacy.

“In 25 years of democratic nation states that have risen from the ashes of socialist Yugoslavia,” Mr. Romac declared, “none of their leaders have come close to matching Tito’s achievements.”

To keep Yugoslavia’s six republics — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia — in place for decades, Tito used an iron hand. He crushed any hint of nationalism . But after his death, nationalism mushroomed in the republics, and Yugoslavia fell apart.

Croatia seceded in 1991, and a war of independence morphed into an ethnic bloodletting that engulfed the region for a decade. Croatia emerged from those tumultuous years into the embrace of the European Union, joining the bloc in 2013.

The union later granted Rijeka the title European Capital of Culture for 2020 (along with Galway, Ireland ). Because of its strategic location in the northern part of the Bay of Kvarner and its deepwater port, Rijeka has historically been one of the most fiercely contested cities in Europe, with shifting demographics, languages and names.

In the past 100 years, the city has been part of multiple states — including the Austrian-Hungarian empire and the Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia. After the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia was established in 1945, the city was officially made part of Croatia.

A multiethnic city of about 168,000 people with a thriving art scene, it has pinned its hopes for revitalization on the European Union’s development funds, but it is fighting the nationalism creeping across Croatia.

As architects and designers draw up plans to create museums, art galleries, music halls and theaters out of Rijeka’s old factories, storage buildings and port facilities, the ascendance of hard-line nationalists is raising fears that Croatia will follow the increasingly autocratic governing styles of Hungary and Poland.

Nationalists like Mr. Hasanbegovic have stepped up the pressure. In February, far-right groups flew neo-Nazis flags at a march in support of Donald J. Trump’s election as president of the United States.

But emboldened nationalists are unlikely to kill the plan for Tito’s ship. Work on the vessel will begin at year’s end, and it is destined to become part of the City Museum of Rijeka .

“It’s not our aim to establish a museum of idolatry,” said Vojko Obersnel, the mayor of Rijeka. Although Tito “made mistakes,” he added, he is “ an important historical figure , deeply connected to our city.”

Many Croats say they are fed up with the bickering over the past. Mario Kruzic, 32, director of the port authority in Crikvenica, spoke for many who are too young to view Tito’s legacy with either nostalgia or resentment.

“I have my life and career ahead of me,” he said. “I want politicians to look for solutions to the problems of the present and leave the past to historians.”

An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to the creation of Yugoslavia. While Josip Broz Tito is credited with establishing the modern state of Yugoslavia in 1945, the country was formed after World War I.

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Tito's Restored Former Flagship to Become Hotel and Museum in Croatia

December 10, 2020

The restored flagship of former Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito is being converted into a hotel and a museum devoted to its turbulent history, from banana boat to meeting place for world statesmen.

Berthed in Croatia’s Adriatic port of Rijeka, the Galeb (Seagull) will open to the public in its new role next year.

The ship was built in 1938 in Italy to transport bananas from Africa. During World War Two, it was used first by the Italian navy and then by the Germans and it was sunk by Allied planes at the end of the war.

In communist Yugoslavia, it was retrieved and converted into a yacht used by Tito for his many journeys across the globe.

During that time, Galeb hosted more than 70 statesmen - kings, presidents and prime ministers - and played an important role for the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War era.

Tito died in 1980 and following the collapse of Yugoslavia in the Balkans wars of the 1990s, Galeb was left to rust until the city of Rijeka decided to buy it.

“I expect the ship to be completed for its new purpose in the first half of 2021,” Rijeka mayor Vojko Obersnel told Reuters.

“Its command deck, the premises used by Tito and the engine room will become a museum. The other parts of the ship will serve as a hotel with bars and a restaurant,” he said.

The work on the ship, which is now located in Kraljevica shipyard near Rijeka, cost about 60 million kuna ($9.6 million), half of which was granted from European Union funds.

Obersnel said he expected a strong interest in visiting the ship, both from home and abroad, once it finally anchors in the Rijeka dock.

“A few years ago, when the ship was in a poor condition, we organised an exhibition which was visited by 15,000 people. It is part of our and international history,” Obersnel said.

($1 = 6.2 kuna)

(Reporting by Antonio Bronic and Igor Ilic, editing by Angus MacSwan)

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Row over Tito’s former yacht

The fascinating full story behind the article in our July issue

Here is the fascinating full story behind our article in Med News this month about Tito’s former yacht Galeb:

The sale of a luxury yacht that former Yugoslav dictator Tito used to entertain international politicians and celebrities such as Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor has been postponed following legal action by its last owner.

The Galeb, or Seagull, was once a famous flagship of the Yugoslav navy and one of the world’s largest yachts. It came to international attention in 1953 when it carried former dictator Marshal Josip Tito up the Thames to meet Winston Churchill – the first visit to Britain by a Communist head of state.

The ship was to have been auctioned off on May 9 for less than the price of scrap metal after being seized by authorities in the Croatian port of Rijeka after its last owner, Greek shipping magnate John Paul Papanicolaou, failed to cover berthing costs reportedly amounting to £330,000.

It was to have been sold for a starting price of £85,000 to cover some of the debts to the local Viktor Lenac shipyard. But local experts said that, if it were sold as scrap iron, the yacht could easily fetch over £155,000.

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Croatian authorities had bestowed cultural heritage status on the Galeb, which required it to stay in one piece, but Papanicolaou went to the country’s Supreme Court objecting to the decision.

“The reason for cancellation is the complaint lodged at the Supreme Court by John Paul Papanicoulau,” said Miljenko Kurobasa, the president of the Trading Court in Rijeka.

He added a new date could not be set for an auction until the Supreme Court had dealt with the matter.

The purchase of the yacht has become a top priority for the city of Rijeka.

Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel said: “I will do everything to make sure that the Galeb remains in Rijeka. This ship is of huge historical and cultural importance, which is why we want to buy it.”

Head of Rijeka Municipality Zlatko Komadina said the mayor had his backing. “We are also in favour of buying the ship because history was made on it. We need to show that we are not ashamed of our recent past.”

City authorities are n considering whether to turn the ship into a luxury commercial cruiser, at an estimated cost of 40 million dollars, or to turn it into a museum at the more moderate cost of six million dollars.

The 384-foot motor yacht gained international fame after Marshal Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia from the end of WWII until his death in 1980, used it to travel to the UK in 1953 in what was the first ever visit to Britain by a Communist head of state. The ship was given a Royal Navy escort up the Thames to an embankment where Tito met Winston Churchill and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Tito also used the Galeb to entertain over 100 other world leaders, including Nikita Khrushchev of the former USSR, Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi and India’s Mohandas Gandhi, as well as the most prominent celebrities of the time, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Sophia Loren.

The enormous white yacht was built by the Italians in the port of Genoa in 1938 to transport fruit. During WWII, it was used by the Nazi fleet to lay mines until it was sunk by British bombers off Rijeka in 1945.

When the new Yugoslav socialist state emerged victorious from the war, it salvaged the Galeb and assumed ownership, adding the ship to its emerging fleet until it eventually became Tito’s private yacht.

Yugoslav filmmakers have made a string of documentaries about the legendary travels of the Galeb, making it one of the most recognizable symbols of Yugoslav iconography. For many from the former Yugoslavia, the recent focus on the ship has churned up old memories of what the local press has called “the high hopes and prosperity of a bygone era”.

A former military musician aboard the Galeb, accordion player Zoran Joksimovic, 48, says he never forgot the “glory days”.

He said: “The Galeb was truly a dream ship. It emanated beauty. Persian carpets, precious wooden furniture, golden dishes and cutlery. Back then, I could barely believe my eyes.”

After Tito’s death in 1980, the Galeb was docked in Croatia until the outbreak of the civil war that shattered socialist Yugoslavia in 1991, when it was moved to neighbouring Montenegrin waters with the rest of the Yugoslav military fleet.

It remained there until 2000, when it was bought by Greek tycoon Papanicolaou, who also owns Aristotle Onassis’s former yacht Christina O. He planned to turn the former flagship into a luxury rental cruiser and contracted Croatia’s leading shipyard Viktor Lenac to do the refitting.

But after Papanicolaou failed to meet his financial obligations, the shipyard took legal action and a local court scheduled an auction for May 9.

The emotional influence that the ship still commands was made clear with the announcement. A number of groups, including the Rijeka Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters, whose WWII veterans fought under Tito’s command, appealed to city authorities to save the ship which they consider “part of our cultural and historic heritage”.

A spokesman for the Anti-Fascist Fighters said: “Then we can remember the times we are proud of.”

And Nenad Car, director of the Viktor Lenac shipyard, claims that despite its current run-down appearance, the ship, which still boasts its original Fiat 2500 HP twin diesel engines, is in fairly good shape.

He said: “It is in much better condition than Onassis’s Christina O was before we reconstructed it a few years ago.”

Zeljko Matejcic, the captain currently guarding the Galeb in the run up to the auction, agreed and said: “The steel frame has not corroded, and the main engines are in great shape.

“I am no Communist, nor do I approve of everything Tito did, but I love the Galeb, and I think it would be a shame to let it perish.”

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For the love of the journey.

Marshal Tito’s Famous Yacht to Be a Floating Museum

Phil Butler - August 26th, 2019 03:38 pm

The presidential yacht of Marshall Tito on a visit to Taranto - Public Domain

The once magnificent yacht Galeb (Seagull) of the famous Yugoslavian leader Marshal Josip  Broz  Tito, may soon be a showpiece again. According to news from Rijeka on the Adriatic Sea, plans to refurbish the sleek yacht as a museum are in the works.

Moored at her dock in Rijeka, the Galeb is a sad reminder of the pomp and pageantry that surrounded the iconic Tito. The man most experts considered the most benevolent dictator in European history, Marshal Tito once sailed the world’s leadership around the world on the 117-meter Italian-built luxury yacht. Completed in 1938, the Galeb was not always intended to be a yacht.

During World War II the Italian navy made an auxiliary cruiser out of her. She was nearly sunk by the allies on two occasions but survived until the Germans took over the ship. The allies finally sunk the Galeb and it lay on the bottom of Rijeka harbor until Tito’s government salvaged her.

In her heyday, the Galeb is rumored to have ferried stars like Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as famous political leaders like Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, Haile Selassie, and the now-infamous Muammar Gaddafi. The drone footage below gives shows the shadow of a one sleek and luxurious yacht.

Now, the Rijeka City Museum is intent on refurbishing the vessel and transforming it into a floating museum. According to the news, the Galeb has always attracted a lot of attention, so decision-makers think it’s high time the public get on board for a closer look.

The loose plan is to refurbish Galeb before Rijeka sees tourists from its stent as the European Capital of Culture in 2020. The museum is already collecting period pieces to refit the interiors as they would have been when Tito sailed on her. So far, no maritime company has been selected to refurbish the rusty hull of the ship.

Balkan Insight has the complete story.

About Phil Butler

Phil is a prolific technology, travel, and news journalist and editor. A former public relations executive, he is an analyst and contributor to key hospitality and travel media, as well as a geopolitical expert for more than a dozen international media outlets.

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Tito’s Yacht ‘Galeb’ Seeking Shipyard For Overhaul

Total Croatia News

December 1, 2018

December 1, 2018 — A tender to restore the rusting hulk that was Yugoslav strongman Tito’s yacht “Galeb” has been released in hopes the dilapidated ship will be restored just as Rijeka becomes the European Capital of Culture , according to Morski.hr .

The call for bids to restore “Galeb”, Josip Broz Tito’s de facto personal yacht, seeks a shipyard willing to take on the HRK 27.6 million-task of overhauling the yacht ahead of its new life as a museum.

“We hope that Croatian shipbuilders will come forward and that their offers will be pedantic,” said Ivan Šarar, the head of Rijeka’s Department of Culture. The city will be accepting bids until January 3, 2019.

The project comes just as Uljanik, one of Croatia’s larger shipyards near Rijeka, undergoes a painful financial crisis with no clear solution. Ironically, Uljanik already overhauled “Galeb” once in 1952 after Allied forces sunk the ship in Rijeka during WWII.

The 380-foot ship was originally an Italian auxiliary cruiser, then a German minelayer during WWII. The Yugoslav Navy then used it as a school ship. Tito eventually made it his official nautical residence and floating embassy, using the ship for over 100 meetings with statesmen.

Tito most notably used Galeb to visit London in 1953, his first time leaving Yugoslavia since he broke away from the communist bloc and began a decades-long habit of playing the East and West against each other.

Galeb’s overhaul is part of a broader plan to spiff up the city in general, including an abandoned sugar factory. The two projects together are partially funded by the European Union, which is covering about HRK 68.8 million or 85 percent of the expenses.

If all goes to plan, the renovation of the exterior will be complete by the end of next year, followed by the rejuvenation of the insides. Ideally, Galeb will open its doors as a museum, as well as a public and catering space, by the middle of 2020.

The Museum of Rijeka has already begun collected restored copies of Galeb’s furniture, specifically from the salon and apartments, which belonged to Josip Broz Tito and his wife Jovanka. Next year, furniture from the large salon, dining room and guest cabins will be refurbished.

The Museum this year took over the ship’s inventory, including furniture, electronics and documentation.

Galeb has undergone several restorations since it was first created in 1938. This overhaul aims to return the ship to its Tito-era form, providing a historic link to Tito’s regime and the Yugoslav era.

Don’t let the rust and decrepit state of the ship fool you; Galeb has enjoyed a second life as a photo-du-jour among those who favor shooting decrepitude. It has also been featured in the British/American television series Strike Back.

For more on Galeb, click here .

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Croatia to Transform Tito’s Iconic Yacht into Museum

Moored at a dock in the Adriatic Sea port city of Rijeka, the Galeb (Seagull), best known for being used by the Yugoslav President, Josip Broz Tito, as his official yacht, is waiting for a makeover to restore its splendour and turn it into a museum.

Ahead of the expected opinion next year, the dock is currently closed to the public and curious visitors can only take glimpse through the fence at the 117-metre-long vessel on which Tito used to host various potentates from around the world.

Natasa Babic, a curator from Rijeka City Museum, which is in charge of the Galeb’s conservation, told BIRN that the vessel still evokes a lot of interest among visitors.

“It’s now in a very poor condition in the Baros Harbour area where it is inaccessible to visitors, but groups of tourists are still looking at the ship through the fence, showing interest, and asking tour guides to take them there and to show them the ship,” Babic said.

The dilapidated ship should be restored and transformed into a museum as Rijeka becomes European Capital of Culture in 2020. The Museum of Rijeka has already begun collecting restored pieces of the ship’s furniture while the project’s managers are looking for a company to renovate the rusting hulk.

Rijeka’s Department of Culture told BIRN that the ship is a valuable example of shipbuilding heritage, “with the added historical significance of its various roles in history”.

“Although perhaps the most famous as Tito’s Galeb, this boat actually has a very interesting biography that is worth of attention,” it said.

The Galeb’s turbulent history

The Galeb was built in Italy in 1938 by an Italian state company called Ramb. Its intended role was to transport bananas to Italy from its southern African colonies.

“However, the boat did not actually do so, it never transported a single banana because it was launched [just] before the outbreak of WWII,” Babic said.

At the beginning of WWII, the Italian Navy took over the ship and converted it for military purposes into an auxiliary cruiser.

During the war, the ship was seriously hit twice – first by torpedoes from a British submarine in the Libyan port of Benghazi.

As Italy capitulated in September 1943, the German army took over the ship, converting it into a minelayer and changing its name to the Kiebitz. Allied forces then sank the ship near Rijeka in 1944 and it spent three years at the bottom of the sea.

The vessel was rehabilitated for a second time and in the newly-established Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and designated for use as a navy training ship. Its present name, Galeb, dates from the 1950s, when Tito started to use it for diplomatic voyages.

The Galeb is perceived by the public as a luxury yacht, and it’s often said that Tito used it to host stars such as Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who played the Yugoslav president in the 1973 film ‘Battle of Sutjeska’. However, the staff of the Rijeka City Museum have not found any evidence that any of these world-renowned actors ever set foot on board the ship.

The Yugoslav leader made 14 voyages with the Galeb, also known as ‘The Peace Ship’, visiting 18 countries on three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa.

He use it for high-level diplomatic meetings, hosting powerful figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, Gamal Abdel Nasser, the president of Egypt, Haile Selassie, the Ethiopian emperor, Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, and Muammar Gaddafi, the leader of Libya.

“[Tito’s] first journey was in 1953, to London – a very important journey because Yugoslavia, after that historic ‘no’ to Stalin [his refusal to accept the Soviet Union’s supremacy in the Communist world, which led to a split with Moscow in 1948], had entered into a kind of isolation in which it did not communicate either with the West or with the East,” Babic said.

“Indeed, this trip in 1953 was a sign of a new orientation for Yugoslavia, kind of turning to the West, of course not entirely, because it remained a Communist country, but in any case, it was a Communist country seeking a new, different path [compared] to other Eastern Bloc countries,” she continued.

Babic said that one crucial journey made by the Galeb began in November 1954 – a voyage to India and Burma which marked the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement, an international organisation founded by Tito and comprising countries that did not belong to either NATO or the Warsaw Pact.

Waiting for a makeover

After the break-up of Yugoslavia, the Galeb sailed to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro, and in 2000, the Montenegrin government sold the ship for 750,000 euros to Greek businessman John Paul Papanicolaou.

“He brought [the Galeb] to [Rijeka’s] Viktor Lenac shipbuilding facility, alongside one of his other ships. However, [Papanicolaou] ran into great financial troubles, failed to complete the project to renovate these two ships and in fact, ceased to be the owner of the [Galeb],” Babic said.

In 2006, the Galeb was proclaimed to be an object of Croatian cultural heritage and three years later, was bought by the city of Rijeka.

The city announced the reconstruction of the ship, which will be co-financed with EU funds as part of a project intended to preserve significance examples of local industrial heritage

“It’s estimated that the reconstruction and conversion of the Galeb into a ship-museum will be 33.6 million kunas [4.5 million euros], while for restoration work on the interior design of the Galeb, an additional 1.6 million kunas [216,824 euros] is needed,” Rijeka’s Department of Culture told BIRN.

However, for some time the city has not been able to find contractors who would agree to do the job fo the estimated price. The only offer came in January from the Viktor Lenac shipyard and it amounted to almost to 60 million kunas (8.1 million euros), which the City of Rijeka deemed too much.

The city has reopened the tender for the reconstruction of the ship, and is seeking bids until the middle of August.

Rijeka’s Department of Culture said that taking into account the time needed for the bids to be evaluated and the contracts to be concluded, the restoration work on the Galeb should be complete in December 2020.

As well as being a museum, the ship will be used for commercial purposes.

“Seventy per cent of this space will become a museum, meaning it will be open to the public and we are working on a permanent exhibition…. and [the rest] should become a hostel; there will be accommodation facilities and a restaurant open to everyone,” Babic explained.

The permanent exhibition will be dedicated to Tito’s journeys and to the role of the Galeb in the development of the Non-Aligned Movement, but will also explore the ship’s connections with Rijeka’s history.

“Today, the Galeb is one of the most exciting stories in Rijeka and the interest of foreign journalists in this ship has not diminished for years. When it is renovated and repurposed, we believe that it will be a first-class cultural and tourist attraction for Rijeka,” the Department of Culture said. “It does not deserve anything less.”

Source: balkaninsight.com

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Legendary Tito’s Yacht “Galeb” to be turned into a Floating Museum?

Galeb was the Yugoslav icon of communist president, and Elizabeth Taylor, Sophie Loren and numerous state officials and leaders visited this great ship. After Tito’s death back in 1980, his yacht was left to perish. Now, the city of Rijeka purchased it and they are planning to turn the ship into the star of marking the European capital city of culture in 2020.

“A ship with such a history can be a great attraction,” stated the Mayor of Rijeka, Vojko Obersnel.

The ship was built back in 1938 in Genoa, Italy, and it was originally called “Ramb III”. It served for the transportation of bananas from Africa. It was hit by a torpedo in World War II, and then the German forces seized it and turned it into a minelayer. The ship was sinked by allied forces in a bomb attack on Rijeka back in 1944.

The 117 meters long ship was brought on the surface and after the war, it officially became Tito’s yacht. It was also known as the Peace Boat and it attracted global attention back in 1953 when Tito sailed to London to meet Winston Churchill, which was the first visit of the head of a communist state to Britain.

Galeb also played an important role in the Non-Aligned Movement, which was established by Tito and the leaders of India, Indonesia, Ghana and Egypt in response to domination of the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War.

“All furniture is original and we will try to keep it in the original condition, in order to represent the life of Tito,” said Pavec.

The city is planning to invest 40 million HRK (Around 5.4 million EUR) from EU funds for the reconstruction of “Galeb” as a floating museum.

(Source: klix.ba)

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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For the first time Rosatom Fuel Division supplied fresh nuclear fuel to the world’s only floating nuclear cogeneration plant in the Arctic

The fuel was supplied to the northernmost town of Russia along the Northern Sea Route.

The first in the history of the power plant refueling, that is, the replacement of spent nuclear fuel with fresh one, is planned to begin before 2024. The manufacturer of nuclear fuel for all Russian nuclear icebreakers, as well as the Akademik Lomonosov FNPP, is Machinery Manufacturing Plant, Joint-Stock Company (MSZ JSC), a company of Rosatom Fuel Company TVEL that is based in Elektrostal, Moscow Region.

The FNPP includes two KLT-40S reactors of the icebreaking type. Unlike convenient ground-based large reactors (that require partial replacement of fuel rods once every 12-18 months), in the case of these reactors, the refueling takes place once every few years and includes unloading of the entire reactor core and loading of fresh fuel into the reactor.

The cores of KLT-40 reactors of the Akademik Lomonosov floating power unit have a number of advantages compared to the reference ones: a cassette core was used for the first time in the history of the unit, which made it possible to increase the fuel energy resource to 3-3.5 years between refuelings, and also reduce the fuel component of the electricity cost by one and a half times. The FNPP operating experience formed the basis for the designs of reactors for nuclear icebreakers of the newest series 22220. Three such icebreakers have been launched by now.

For the first time the power units of the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant were connected to the grid in December 2019, and put into commercial operation in May 2020. The supply of nuclear fuel from Elektrostal to Pevek and its loading into the second reactor is planned for 2024. The total power of the Akademik Lomonosov FNPP, supplied to the coastal grid of Pevek without thermal energy consumption on shore, is about 76 MW, being about 44 MW in the maximum thermal power supply mode. The FNPP generated 194 million kWh according to the results of 2023. The population of Pevek is just a little more than 4 thousand, while the FNPP has a potential for supplying electricity to a city with a population of up to 100 thousand people. After the FNPP commissioning two goals were achieved. These include first of all the replacement of the retiring capacities of the Bilibino NPP, which has been operating since 1974, as well as the Chaunskaya TPP, which has already been operating for more than 70 years. Secondly, energy is supplied to the main mining companies in western Chukotka in the Chaun-Bilibino energy hub a large ore and metal cluster, including gold mining companies and projects related to the development of the Baimsk ore zone. In September 2023, a 110 kilovolt power transmission line with a length of 490 kilometers was put into operation, connecting the towns of Pevek and Bilibino. The line increased the reliability of energy supply from the FNPP to both Bilibino consumers and mining companies, the largest of which is the Baimsky GOK. The comprehensive development of the Russian Arctic is a national strategic priority. To increase the NSR traffic is of paramount importance for accomplishment of the tasks set in the field of cargo shipping. This logistics corridor is being developed due regular freight voyages, construction of new nuclear-powered icebreakers and modernization of the relevant infrastructure. Rosatom companies are actively involved in this work. Rosatom Fuel Company TVEL (Rosatom Fuel Division) includes companies fabricating nuclear fuel, converting and enriching uranium, manufacturing gas centrifuges, conducting researches and producing designs. As the only nuclear fuel supplier to Russian NPPs, TVEL supplies fuel for a total of 75 power reactors in 15 countries, for research reactors in nine countries, as well as for propulsion reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet. Every sixth power reactor in the world runs on TVEL fuel. Rosatom Fuel Division is the world’s largest producer of enriched uranium and the leader on the global stable isotope market. The Fuel Division is actively developing new businesses in chemistry, metallurgy, energy storage technologies, 3D printing, digital products, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. TVEL also includes Rosatom integrators for additive technologies and electricity storage systems. Rosenergoatom, Joint-Stock Company is part of Rosatom Electric Power Division and one of the largest companies in the industry acting as an operator of nuclear power plants. It includes, as its branches, 11 operating NPPs, including the FNPP, the Scientific and Technical Center for Emergency Operations at NPPs, Design and Engineering as well as Technological companies. In total, 37 power units with a total installed capacity of over 29.5 GW are in operation at 11 nuclear power plants in Russia. Machinery Manufacturing Plant, Joint-Stock Company (MSZ JSC, Elektrostal) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of fuel for nuclear power plants. The company produces fuel assemblies for VVER-440, VVER-1000, RBMK-1000, BN-600,800, VK-50, EGP-6; powders and fuel pellets intended for supply to foreign customers. It also produces nuclear fuel for research reactors. The plant belongs to the TVEL Fuel Company of Rosatom.

Rosatom obtained a license for the first land-based SMR in Russia

On April 21, Rosenergoatom obtained a license issued by Rostekhnadzor to construct the Yakutsk land-based SMR in the Ust-Yansky District of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

ROSATOM and FEDC agree to cooperate in the construction of Russia's first onshore SNPP

ROSATOM and FEDC have signed a cooperation agreement to build Russia's first onshore SNPP in Yakutia.

Rosatom develops nuclear fuel for modernized floating power units

Rosatom has completed the development of nuclear fuel for the RITM-200S small modular reactor designed for the upgraded floating power units.

Strange Glow Over Moscow Skies Triggers Panic as Explosions Reported

B right flashes lit up the night sky in southern Moscow in the early hours of Thursday morning, new footage appears to show, following reports of an explosion at an electrical substation on the outskirts of the city.

Video snippets circulating on Russian-language Telegram channels show a series of flashes on the horizon of a cloudy night sky, momentarily turning the sky a number of different colors. In a clip shared by Russian outlet MSK1.ru, smoke can be seen rising from a building during the flashes lighting up the scene.

Newsweek was unable to independently verify the details of the video clips, including when and where it was filmed. The Russian Ministry of Emergency situations has been contacted via email.

Several Russian Telegram accounts said early on Thursday that residents of southern Moscow reported an explosion and a fire breaking out at an electrical substation in the Leninsky district, southeast of central Moscow.

Local authorities in the Leninsky district told Russian outlet RBC that the explosion had happened in the village of Molokovo. "All vital facilities are operating as normal," Leninsky district officials told the outlet.

The incident at the substation in Molokovo took place just before 2 a.m. local time, MSK1.ru reported.

Messages published by the ASTRA Telegram account, run by independent Russian journalists, appear to show residents close to the substation panicking as they question the bright flashes in the sky. One local resident describes seeing the bright light before losing access to electricity, with another calling the incident a "nightmare."

More than 10 villages and towns in the southeast of Moscow lost access to electricity, the ASTRA Telegram account also reported. The town of Lytkarino to the southeast of Moscow, lost electricity, wrote the eastern European-based independent outlet, Meduza.

Outages were reported in the southern Domodedovo area of the city, according to another Russian outlet, as well as power failures in western Moscow. Electricity was then restored to the areas, the Strana.ua outlet reported.

The cause of the reported explosion is not known. A Telegram account aggregating news for the Lytkarino area described the incident as "an ordinary accident at a substation."

The MSK1.ru outlet quoted a local resident who speculated that a drone may have been responsible for the explosion, but no other Russian source reported this as a possible cause.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Moscow with long-range aerial drones in recent months, including a dramatic wave of strikes in late May.

On Sunday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the region's air defense systems had intercepted an aerial drone over the city of Elektrostal, to the east of Moscow. No damage or casualties were reported, he said.

The previous day, Russian air defenses detected and shot down another drone flying over the Bogorodsky district, northeast of central Moscow, Sobyanin said.

There is currently no evidence that an aerial drone was responsible for the reported overnight explosion at the electrical substation in southern Moscow.

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