1 of 2 An aerial photo shows the AlMansur, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s private yacht, on the Shatt alArab waterway formed at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, Oct. 2022 Photo: Hussein Faleh / AFP aerial photo shows the AlMansur, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s private yacht, on the Shatt alArab waterway formed at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the city of Basra in southern Iraq, Iraq, October 9, 2022 — Photo: Hussein Faleh / AFP
At the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq, an image appears to have been frozen in time: the rusted wreck of a yacht that sank 20 years ago, as the USled invasion of the country ended decades of Saddam Hussein’s oppressive rule. It’s about the AlMansur (Victorious), which belonged to the former dictator and has now become a tourist attraction and picnic spot for local fishermen.
Measurement 120 meters long and weighs more than 7 thousand tons, the old presidential yacht, was assembled in Finland and shipped to Iraq in 1983, according to the website of Danish designer Knud E. Hansen, who is responsible for the work. What was once a symbol of the former Iraqi leader’s wealth and megalomania now lies on its side, halfsubmerged, nothing more than a fragile echo of the false glory of the past.
“When it belonged to the former president, nobody came near it,” fisherman Hussein Sabahi, who likes to end a long day on the Shatt alArab River with a cup of tea aboard the wreck, told Portal. “I find it hard to believe that this belonged to Saddam and now I’m the one walking around,” he added.
1 of 6 Aerial view shows the AlMansur, a private yacht of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, on the Shatt alArab waterway in the southern Iraqi city of Basra February 28, 2023. 2 of 6 Aerial view shows the AlMansur, the private yacht of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, on the Shatt alArab waterway formed at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, Oct. 2022 — Photo: Hussein Faleh / AFP 3 of 6 image shows detail of the AlMansur, a private yacht of the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, on the Shatt alArab waterway in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, on February 28, 2023 — Photo: Hussein Faleh / AFP 4 of 6 aerial photo shows The AlMansur, a private yacht of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, on the Shatt alArab waterway in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, on February 28, 2023 — Photo: Hussein Faleh / AFP 5 of 6 Aerial photo shows the AlMansur, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s private yacht, in the hydro ovia Shatt alArab, formed at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris, in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on October 9, 2022 — Photo: Hussein Faleh / AFP 6 of 6 file photo dated April 10, 2022 2003 shows Iraqis Dictator Saddam Hussein’s luxury yacht, the Al Mansur, moored in Basra after being bombed during the USled invasion of Iraq — Photo: Simon Walker via AFP
The ship was bombed during the USled invasion of Iraq
AlMansur was bombed in March 2003
In the period immediately prior to the March 20, 2003 invasion, the AlMansur was anchored in the Gulf. A few weeks later, however, Saddam gave the order to abandon the yacht, which he never boarded, from its anchorage in Umm Qasr.
The ship was then taken to Basra, where it is currently located “to protect it from bombing by American planes,” according to ship’s engineer Ali Mohamed. “It was a failure,” he added.
According to Qahtan alObeid, the former Head of Basra Heritage, “several attacks” were carried out on the yacht over the course of several days in March 2003. “It was bombed at least three times, but it never sank,” he says.
In photos taken by an AFP photographer in 2003, the AlMansur can still be seen floating in the water, her upper decks charred from a fire that broke out as a result of the bombing. But in June of this year the boat was already beginning to tip over. The decisive factor would have been when the engines were stolen. “This created openings and water got in, causing him to lose his balance,” Obeid said.
2 of 2 File photo dated April 10, 2003 shows Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s luxury yacht, the AlMansur, docked in Basra after it was bombed during the USled invasion of Iraq — Photo taken by Simon Walker via AFP File Photo April 10, 2003 shows Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s luxury yacht the AlMansur docked in Basra after it was bombed during the USled invasion of Iraq
In the turmoil that followed the fall of Saddam Hussein Yacht was looted. Almost everything has been removed, from the chandeliers and furniture to parts of the metal structure. Since then it’s been downhill. Although some Iraqis advocate preserving the wreck, successive governments have failed to allocate funds to recover it.
“This yacht is like a precious jewel, like a rare masterpiece to keep at home,” said Zahi Moussa, a naval captain working for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport. “It saddens us that this is the case.”