The Black Sea Ferry

The Black Sea Ferry (Karadeniz Vapuru) Mobile Exhibition was an international promotional and trade fair organized by the Republic of Türkiye in 1926. Conducted aboard the Karadeniz Vapuru, the exhibition toured prominent port cities in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean, and Europe. As the first overseas international fair initiative of the Turkish Republic, this exhibition aimed to promote Turkey’s industrial and artistic products abroad, expand opportunities for foreign trade, and strengthen diplomatic relations.

^{Emblem of the Karadeniz Vapuru Mobile Exhibition (}Atatürk Encyclopedia⁾

The first recognized international exhibition in history was the Great Exhibition held in London in 1851, with the Ottoman Empire participating among 28 other nations. Following the economic devastation of the First World War, many countries sought new external markets to recover losses. In line with this trend, the newly established Republic of Turkey pursued international trade and promotional initiatives. In 1925, Turkey participated in the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. Subsequently, the idea of organizing a mobile exhibition was conceived as a more comprehensive promotional campaign abroad.

The mobile exhibition project was proposed in 1925 during the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s debates over the Ministry of Trade’s budget. The then Minister of Trade, Ali Cenani Bey, suggested converting a passenger steamer into a traveling exhibition vessel to showcase Turkish products and artworks in European ports. The proposal was accepted, and the Karadeniz Vapuru was selected for the task. A budget of 100,000 lira was allocated for the project.

After completing its final voyage within the Istanbul passenger ferry network on 3 April 1926, the ship was transferred to the Mobile Exhibition Commission and taken to the Haliç (Golden Horn) shipyard for refurbishment. Its original black hull was repainted white, cargo holds were converted into exhibition halls, and the necessary interior arrangements were made. Preparations were jointly overseen by the Exhibition Commission and the International Exhibitions and Fairs Committee of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. By the end of May 1926, the ship was fully outfitted for its mission.

^{Mustafa Kemal Atatürk at the Karadeniz Vapuru Mobile Exhibition (}Atatürk Encyclopedia⁾

The Karadeniz Vapuru departed Istanbul on 12 June 1926 and reached Mudanya on 13 June, where the exhibition was inspected by Mustafa Kemal Pasha. His visit concluded with highly positive remarks regarding the project. The vessel then embarked on its European tour, visiting the following ports in order:

• Bona (Algeria)
• Barcelona (Spain)
• Le Havre (France)
• London (United Kingdom)
• Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• Hamburg (Germany)
• Stockholm (Sweden)
• Helsinki (Finland)
• Leningrad (Soviet Union)
• Danzig and Gdynia (Poland)
• Copenhagen (Denmark)
• Antwerp (Belgium)
• Marseille (France)
• Genoa and Naples (Italy)

The voyage lasted a total of 86 days and 22 hours, covering 9,986 nautical miles, and consuming 2,778 tons of coal and 971 tons of fresh water. In total, 13 countries and 16 ports were visited, with the exhibition attended by approximately 65,000 visitors.

^{Crew of the Karadeniz Vapuru (}Turkish Cypriot Coastal Safety and Ship Rescue⁾

The Karadeniz Vapuru carried not only merchants and crew but also prominent figures from the fields of arts, media, and government. Among the participants were the poet Kemalettin Kamu, journalist Vâlâ Nurettin, artist Bedia Celal Hanım, Dündar Bey, along with various artists, academics, and public officials. The Presidential Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Osman Zeki Üngör, accompanied the voyage.

The crew consisted of 125 personnel, with a total of 285 people on board during the journey. Throughout the exhibition, 16 receptions and balls were hosted aboard the ship, and participants attended 36 official invitations and events on land.