Özlem Shipwreck

Rusting hull of a Turkish ship grounded on the Batumi shore in 2015

A short walk along the beach north of the central boulevard brings you to a corroded, rust-orange shipwreck half-pulled up onto the pebbles. The Özlem-1 was a small Turkish cargo vessel that broke loose in a storm in 2015 and grounded itself on the Batumi shore. Removal turned out to be more expensive than abandonment.

The hulk has been there ever since, slowly rusting through. It is one of the more photographed things in Batumi for travellers who enjoy unintended landmarks. Take care if you go close: the hull is sharp and unstable, and there is no fencing.

things to do landmark
A story
The Özlem-1 was a Turkish cargo ship that broke its moorings in a winter storm in 2015 and ran aground on the beach near Batumi. Salvage proved impossible and the hull was left where it lay — and so an accidental art installation now sits on the pebbles, slowly being eaten by the Black Sea air.

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