MV Mavi Marmara leaving Istanbul for Gaza on May 22, 2010
| |
History | |
---|---|
Comoros | |
Name | MV Mavi Marmara |
Owner | IHH (İnsani Yardım Vakfı) [3] |
Operator | IHH (İnsani Yardım Vakfı) [3] |
Builder | Türkiye Gemi Sanayi A.Ş.[4] |
Yard number | 302[4] |
Completed | November 9, 1994[2] |
Homeport | Istanbul, Turkey |
Identification | IMO number: 9005869[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Passenger ship |
Tonnage | 4,142 GT GT uses unsupported parameter (help) |
Length | 93 m (305 ft)[1] |
Beam | 20 m (66 ft)[1] |
Draft | 4 m (13 ft)[6] |
Installed power | 4,400 kW[2] |
Propulsion | 2[2] |
Speed | max. 9.9 knots (18.3 km/h; 11.4 mph)- avg. 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph)[6] |
Capacity | 1,080 passengers[5] |
MV Mavi Marmara is a Comoros-flagged [7] passenger ship, which was formerly owned and operated by Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc. (Turkish: İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri A.Ş.) (IDO) on the line Sarayburnu, Istanbul-Marmara Island-Avşa Island in the Sea of Marmara. Its name means Blue Marmara. Built at the Golden Gate Shipyard by Turkish Shipbuilding Co. in 1994, the ship has a capacity of 1,080 passengers.[5]
The ship was purchased in 2010 by the Islamic charity IHH (İnsani Yardım Vakfı), the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief. It joined a flotilla of ships operated by activist groups bringing 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, blockaded by Egypt and Israel since 2007. The İHH acquired the ship at a cost of $800,000, to be defrayed by public donations, as no shipowner was willing to risk their vessel on the journey.[3]
On 31 May 2010, the ship was raided by Israeli Defense Forces, leaving many activists dead or injured.
Ship's registry
- ex MS Beydağı[4]
Sister ships
- MS TDI Karadeniz[4]
Gaza flotilla raid
The ship filled with humanitarian supplies was, on 31 May 2010, illegally besieged by Israeli naval commandos who descended upon it from helicopter and in international waters so to prevent it from reaching Gaza.[8] In the subsequent violent clash between passengers and attacking Israeli forces 10 passengers were killed by Israel Navy commandos and up to 60 were injured, while at least 2 Israeli soldiers were injured.[9]
References
- ^ a b c "MS Mavi Marmara". Digital Seas. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ a b c "Detay Gemi Listesi" (PDF) (in Turkish). Cahmber of Maritime Izmir. Retrieved 2010-05-31. |
- ^ a b c "Turkish rights group's cargo ship to set sail with Gaza aid". Hürriyet. 13 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Mavi Marmara" (in Turkish). Tür Gemileri. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ a b "Mavi Marmara Yolcu Gemisi" (in Turkish). IDO. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ a b "M/S Mavi Marmara" (in Turkish). Marine Traffic. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ "İsrail 'uluslararası suları' kabul etti". 01 June 2010.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Deaths as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship (BBC) accessed 31 May 2010
- ^ "At least 10 activists killed by Israel Navy commandos clashes onboard the flotilla". Haaretz. 31 May 2010.
External links
Media related to M/S Mavi Marmara at Wikimedia Commons