Croatia

Dalmont d.o.o.

Launched in 1938, the history of the remarkable 117.3-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2415" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ansaldo (Company)">Ansaldo</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> unfolds as a captivating narrative of unforeseen twists and wartime transformations. Built by the Genoa-based shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2415" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ansaldo (Company)">Ansaldo</a> for Italian state-owned company Regia Azienda Monopolio Banane (RAMB), the vessel features exterior design and naval architecture by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2415" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ansaldo (Company)">Ansaldo</a> and boasts a robust steel hull and lines typical of her period, with distinct features reminiscent of military functionality.Originally destined for service in the banana trade between Africa and Italy under the name Ramb III, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a>'s journey took an unexpected turn with the outbreak of World War II. The grand vessel, instead of ferrying bananas, found herself under the command of the Italian army, reborn as an auxiliary cruiser with a newfound role in the theatre of war transporting meat for the Italian army in Libya.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310593/image/large-b3793fd1459694b7f54975ca36a4475e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310593">Amidst the tumult of war, Ramb III faced a perilous encounter while in the Libyan port of Benghazi when she was struck by torpedoes from the British submarine, HMS Triumph. Unsunk, the yacht survived the attack and sailed 900 miles towards Sicily, Italy, before being hauled to San Marco shipyard in Trieste.As Italy capitulated to the Nazi’s in September 1943, her identity was once again changed. From here, the Germans completed her repairs and converted her into a minelayer named Kiebitz – the German word for the Lapwing bird, whose crest indicates a royal status and whose long, sharp beak is a symbol of his violent nature. During this time, Kiebitz is alleged to have laid over 5,000 mines in the northern Adriatic area.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310594/image/large-bd8ec418bbda3d965516d051dfcc0c25.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310594">On 25 November 1944, the vessel faced a formidable setback, hit in an Allied aircraft strike while anchored in Rijeka, Croatia, sinking the yacht. In 1948 the Brodospas supply ship company came to Kiebitz's aid and the vessel was hauled to the surface, using a pioneering technology based on air cylinders, and transported to the Pula-based shipbuilding company, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/880" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Uljanik Shipyard (Company)">Uljanik</a>. There, against the odds, a meticulous reconstruction took place, breathing new life into the resilient vessel which was relaunched in 1952.&nbsp;She was first transformed into a naval training ship, where she found a new role within the ranks of the Yugoslav Navy, before she was used as a residential yacht and sailed under the name she retains to this day – <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> – which translates in several languages to seagull.&nbsp;Despite a pitfalled start to life, the yacht soon garnered distinguished status among the people of Yugoslavia, when Marshal Josip Broz Tito, often revered as the alleged 'Father' of the Yugoslav Republic, was seen conducting an inspection of the boats in the Yugoslav Navy from her deck in 1952. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310588/image/large-3b03f5a2adfd180ea8680447e31bcec1.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310588">Elevated to an iconic status, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> became synonymous with Tito's leadership and the pride of the nation. She came to the attention of the world stage in March 1953 when Marshal Tito travelled onboard the vessel from Yugoslavia to the iconic River Thames in London, in response to an invitation from the British government and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.&nbsp;Tito, enamoured by the allure that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> brought to both himself and his regime, often used the vessel for parties and foreign visits from world leaders. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> played host to a plethora of visitors including Nikita Khrushchev, Muammar Gaddafi, and Indira Gandhi, all of which graced her decks during their visits. It is also rumoured that Tito welcomed esteemed film stars Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton onboard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a>, following Richard’s portrayal of the Yugoslav president in the 1973 film ‘Battle of Sutjeska’. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310589/image/large-cdc14d9e7df1df5c4afd4a6854229a2a.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310589">For the next 27 years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> remained in Tito’s service, participating in official duties for a total of 549 days, 318 of which the Marshal was onboard. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> remained an integral part of Tito's maritime legacy, up until the leader's passing in 1980, with his last journey onboard taking place in 1979. As the geopolitical landscape shifted with the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a>'s destiny took a new course. She became the property of the Montenegrin government, where the spaces of “the Marshal’s Deck” were opened for visits to schools, and organisations. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310590/image/large-b2713304170b780b1b0c9e5a6aaa1009.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310590"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> was then relocated to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro and at the end of the 1990s she was sold to John Paul Papanicolaou, the same Greek yachtsman who owned the iconic 99.15-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/297" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Canadian Vickers (Company)">Canadian Vickers</a> superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Christina O99.15m (325'4&quot;)Canadian Vickers1943">Christina O</a>. He entrusted Rijeka’s shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Viktor Lenac Shipyard (Company)">Viktor Lenac</a> with the task of repair, however bankruptcy led to the repairs not being completed.In 2006, the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> was proclaimed to be an object of Croatian cultural heritage Initially moored on the quayside of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Viktor Lenac Shipyard (Company)">Viktor Lenac Shipyard</a> in Kostrena, a suburb of Rijeka, the vessel later found a new resting place along the enchanting Rijeka waterfront. However, in September 2008 a leak emerged on the starboard side of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a>'s hull, leading to a partial sinking.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310592/image/large-c00f5141576317f056aac2395f436e9e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310592"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> remained here until 22 May 2009, when the city of Rijeka acquired <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> for $150,000, a transaction that received confirmation from the High Mercantile Court of Croatia. In a visionary move to breathe new life into the historic vessel, the Mayor of Rijeka made a significant announcement on 16 July 2014 that she would be leased out for mixed use to serve a dual purpose.A portion of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> would be dedicated to a museum, carefully curated to showcase the former President's private rooms and selected engineering spaces. This initiative sought to preserve not only the maritime heritage represented by the vessel, but also to offer visitors a glimpse into the personal quarters of the esteemed Yugoslavian leader.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/310591/image/large-90227a3707e839b3d1619c21828a438b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/310591">She would also be used as a vibrant hub for commercial activities, with the vision of transforming her decks into spaces for a hotel, restaurants, and bars. This innovative approach aimed not only to safeguard the vessel's historical significance but also to create a dynamic and engaging environment that echoed the footsteps of history while catering to contemporary needs.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/4494/image/large-7801108e46fb5449592d70a32d578bab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/4494">The ambitious refit and rejuvenation of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> was undertaken by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dalmont d.o.o. (Company)">Dalmont</a> in Kraljevica, Croatia, with an estimated cost of approximately €8 million. Although the refit encountered a brief pause in May 2023, the project has since resumed its course. Progress has been steady, with an anticipated completion date set for 2024. The meticulous work being undertaken by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6179" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dalmont d.o.o. (Company)">Dalmont</a> signifies a commitment to preserving <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a>'s storied legacy while ushering it into a new era of functionality and purpose.Upon the completion of the refit, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a> is destined for a prominent position in the Rijeka port. The vessel will be transformed into a dual-purpose haven, serving as both a museum and a small hotel with a select number of rooms. Thanks to the project, 80 percent of the ship will be restored, conserved and made available to visitors, while the remaining 20 percent of the space will be reserved for “non-museum” features, such as the restaurant/café bar and hotel.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/4495/image/large-a31dd255f82d37dc467f78470aa7caea.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/4495">This thoughtful fusion of history and hospitality ensures that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3870" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Galeb-T117.3m (384'10&quot;)Ansaldo1939">Galeb</a>'s allure continues to captivate visitors, offering them a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the maritime heritage of Croatia, while focusing on the events that played a significant part in her life.This article is featured in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/issue-48-superyacht-times-newspaper" target="_blank">Issue 48</a>&nbsp;of the SuperYacht Times newspaper.&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/report/the-superyacht-times-subscription" target="_blank">Subscribe now</a>&nbsp;to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.&nbsp;

117m Ansaldo superyacht Galeb's resilient odyssey

Sophie Spicknell takes a look at Galeb’s expansive history, from wartime woes to a rejuvenating refit. 

