Croatia

Viktor Lenac Shipyard

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. 



Yacht history: The resilient odyssey of the 117m yacht Galeb

Over the years, the iconic Port Hercules of Monaco has welcomed countless superyachts. As the only deep-water port in Monaco, the harbour has been integral in the development of the Principality as the capital of yachting. Although the modern Port Hercules was completed in 1926, it underwent substantial improvements in the 1970s to become the bustling hotspot known today. Here, revered in-house yacht historian, Malcolm Wood and SuperYacht Times take a closer look at some of the most iconic yachts to dock in the Principality between the 1950s and 1970s.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/48467/image/large-64f3c0345f41ab373ca7dea0a8f0da52.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48467">Carostefal anchored by Port Hercules of MonacoPictured here is the Rainier III Nautical Stadium, complete with its Olympic-sized swimming pool that was completed in 1972. If you look closely you can see Prince Rainier’s 22m superyacht Carostefal (named after his three children,) which was built in 1966 by the Italian Benetti yard in Viareggio.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/48468/image/large-ff1614bf3305a0678ed5423170eb7010.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48468">Istros&nbsp;arriving in Port Hercules of Monaco<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/194" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Istros42.06m (137'12&quot;)">Istros</a> is a classic yacht which was previously delivered in 1954 by Dutch shipyard De Vries Lentsch. She was recently purchased in April 2018 by a new owner as a yacht restoration project. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/194" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Istros42.06m (137'12&quot;)">Istros</a> was previously completely dismantled in 2013 as part of a restoration project initiated by Laurent Giles Naval architects and H2 Yacht Design. Her interiors, plumbing and wiring were removed at the time, but the project was stopped before it could be completed.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/48469/image/large-432b4fc94f0d343670a4833af81ee975.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48469"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Christina O99.15m (325'4&quot;)"></a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Christina O99.15m (325'4&quot;)"></a>Christina O&nbsp;in Port Hercules of Monaco<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Christina O99.15m (325'4&quot;)">Christina O</a> was originally built as the Canadian naval frigate, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Christina O99.15m (325'4&quot;)">Stormont</a>. In 1954 Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis purchased her for $34,000 and converted her into a superyacht at the HDW shipyard in Kiel. Following his death in 1975, she was given to the Greek government as a presidential yacht who renamed her <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/336" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Christina O99.15m (325'4&quot;)">Argo</a>. However, she was not used frequently under the government's ownership. Later on, in 1998, she was bought by a family friend of Onassis, who completely restored the yacht at the Croatian Viktor Lenac shipyard and offered her for charter.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/48470/image/large-9e12bd3b727245dc82adb72ed5ad55e0.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48470">Odysseia&nbsp;in Monaco<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1737" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kalizma50.29m (164'12&quot;)">Odysseia</a> was originally built by Ramage &amp; Ferguson in 1906 under the name <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1737" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kalizma50.29m (164'12&quot;)">Minona</a>. She was used by the British navy during World War I and World War II. However, she became famous when Richard Burton bought her for Elizabeth Taylor in 1967 and renamed the yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1737" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kalizma50.29m (164'12&quot;)">Kalizma</a> after Burton’s children Kate, Liza and Maria. Having undergone numerous refits over the years, she was restored to her classic specifications in 2006 and is currently available for charter.&nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/48471/image/large-e830dafa41dc0f5b0e38c84df5f79e5e.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48471">Radiant II&nbsp;arriving in Port Hercules of MonacoThe 57.55-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1043" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lady K II57.55m (188'10&quot;)">Radiant II</a> was originally built by English yard Austin &amp; Pickersgill in 1961 for Basil Mavroleon, one of England's most well-known shipping tycoons. After changing hands, as well as names numerous times, she was most recently offered for sale in 2015 as a refit project.&nbsp;This article is featured in the latest edition of the SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Subscribe now</a> to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.

Monaco’s yachting history in pictures

<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/124027/image/large-9984aec8f77c2b3a44019df16b67a98e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/124027">Onassis' legendary yacht Christina OOnassis' legendary yacht cruising off Monaco on 27 May 2007. <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/336">Christina O</a> was originally build as the Canadian naval frigate Stormont. In 1954 Onassis converted her into a yacht at the HDW shipyard in Kiel. After the dead of Onassis she came in the hands of the Greek government who renamed her Argo, but she was very little used. In 1998 she was bought by a family friend of Onassis who completed restored the yacht at the Croatian Viktor Lenac shipyard.