Drowned Ottoman ship finally pulled out

An Ottoman ship that was drowned in the Red Sea port of Qunfudah more than 100 years ago has finally been pulled out, local daily Al-Madinah reported Wednesday.The wreckage of the ship was extricated by the company that is currently constructing a fishing area at Qunfudah seaport, 400 km south of Jeddah. The SR3 million contract included pulling away the wreckage from its present place, as it impedes entry of ships to the seaport, in addition to the documentary photographing of the operation and erasing all seaweeds on the ship.  Archaeological experts will study the wreckage under supervision of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. The 60-meter long ship, according to Saudi historian Ghazi bin Ahmad Al-Fakieh, was drowned in 1909 when it was hit by the Italian navy along with two other ships. He said the ship was docked at Qunfudah, which was the seaport of Asir during the reign of the Ottoman ruler Sulaiman Shafiq Pasha Al-Kamali. The historian called for preserving the ship and its content in a special museum to be built in Qunfudah to attract tourists.