Bandırma Ferry Bandırma ferry, a mixed-freight ship, was a notable vessel during the Ottoman era. It gained significance for transporting Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk) from Constantinople to Samsun in May 1919, marking the commencement of the Turkish national movement. The ship was originally built in Paisley, Scotland between 1878 and 1883 and was initially named Trocadero. It was utilized as a freighter for five years before being sold to H. Psicha Preaus in Greece and renamed SS Kymi. Following an accident, the ship sank but resurfaced with the same name. In 1894, the Ottoman Maritime Company purchased the vessel and renamed it SS Panderma. It served as a passenger-cargo ship in the Sea of Marmara. In 1910, its status was changed to the Ottoman Transportation Authority, and the ship was given the name SS Bandırma (which means Panderma). From this point on, it operated as a mail ship along coastal waters. The Bandirma ship has earned its place in Turkish history for its crucial role in transporting Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who was appointed Inspector of the Ninth Army Troops Inspectorate in eastern Anatolia, from Constantinople to Samsun on 16 May 1919 aboard the SS Bandırma. The Scout Master was dispatched by the Sultan's decree to oversee the disbanding of the Ottoman Army, which was mandated by the Entente powers that controlled the Turkish government. Accompanied by 22 officers, 25 soldiers, and 8 administrative staff, Mustafa Kemal Pasha embarked on the voyage to the Black Sea on an old steamer. The journey was fraught with challenges due to the harsh weather conditions and the absence of a functioning compass for navigation. They eventually arrived in Samsun and established the Turkish National Movement, which ultimately led to Turkey's declaration as a republic four years later, following its War of Independence from World War I, soon after Mustafa Kemal Pasha's departure. In recognition of its pivotal role in the birth of modern Turkey, the governor and mayors of Samsun province initiated the process of rebuilding Bandirma. The Taşkınlar shipbuilding company began the construction on May 9th, 2000, and it took almost a year to complete. The museum ship was opened to visitors on May 19th, 2003, at East Park in Samsun, featuring wax figures of Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his followers as part of the museum's exhibit.