The Bosphorus Strait is one of the most captivating waterways in the world, and among the many vessels that have graced its waters, few embody its spirit as profoundly as M/Y Halas 71. Bearing the marks of a storied past, this distinguished yacht has witnessed history unfold —from the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire to the rise of the Republic, from the turbulence of wartime to the elegance of today’s exclusive events. With a life story spanning more than a century, Halas is a living gift from history.
Amid the countless ships and boats that traverse the Bosphorus, M/Y Halas 71 has always stood apart. Built in Scotland and originally acquired by the Ottoman Empire, Halas served the British during World War I before beginning its remarkable 61-year career as a Şirket-i Hayriye steamship in Istanbul’s waters. Today, it continues to sail as one of the city’s oldest and most graceful maritime treasures. Since 1984, in its lovingly restored form, it has hosted distinguished gatherings, and during the summer months, it takes its timeless elegance beyond the Bosphorus, cruising along the southern shores of Turkey to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
A JOURNEY THAT BEGAN IN SCOTLAND
Launched in 1914 at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland, Halas 71 was commissioned by the Ottoman Empire and named Reşid Paşa. It was initially designed to serve as a passenger vessel for the Bosphorus. However, that same year, with the outbreak of World War I, it was seized by the United Kingdom and renamed Waterwitch. Under British naval command, it operated as a transport ship during the Gallipoli Campaign, notably taking part in the Suvla Bay landing in 1915 as part of the British and French support forces. The vessel remained in the British navy until the war’s end.
Following this dramatic chapter, the ship was returned to its original owners in 1923, after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and the liberation of Istanbul from occupation. Renamed Halas—meaning “liberated” in Arabic—it entered passenger service in the Bosphorus. As part of the Şirket-i Hayriye fleet, Halas was assigned the hull number 71, eventually becoming affectionately known to the public as “Halas 71.” The name  speaks to its rescue and historical significance, while “71” marks its place among the company’s steamships. Serving Istanbul’s waters for over six decades, Halas 71 became an enduring symbol of the Bosphorus.
