The boat, once used by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for sightseeing, has undergone restoration and is now open to visitors at the Naval Museum in Çanakkale.
Known as the “M/G Acar,” this vessel was previously employed to transport Atatürk from the renowned Savarona Yacht to the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. Its historical significance makes it one of the highlights of the Çanakkale Naval Museum.
Visitors can explore the salon where Atatürk dined and the cabin where he rested, offering a glimpse into the leader’s life and activities.
Originally constructed in Germany in 1936-1937, the boat joined the inventory of the Çanakkale Naval Museum in 2017 following its use in various diplomatic missions on the Bosphorus. After extensive restoration efforts spanning nine months, the 27.5-meter-long, 5-meter-wide, and 65-ton boat was placed on display in April 2018, following landscaping works.
Colonel Serhan Aras, a director at the Çanakkale Maritime Museum, emphasized the boat’s significance as Atatürk’s final connection to the sea, particularly during his convalescence on the Savarona.
Following Atatürk’s passing, the M/G Acar continued its service as an official motorboat before being decommissioned and transferred to the Naval War College. Restoration work in 2000 and a ceremonial launch in 2001, led by Semra Sezer, the wife of 10th President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, preceded its current status as a museum exhibit.
