The iconic 117.3-metre superyacht Galeb, once the personal vessel of Marshal Tito, the former president of Yugoslavia, has undergone a comprehensive five-year restoration at Kraljevica Shipyard in Croatia. Galeb is now set to function as a museum, showcasing the vessel's rich history, and will feature public amenities including a restaurant, café, and accommodation. Following Tito's demise, Galeb (which means 'seagull' in Croatian) was transferred to the Montenegrin government after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. It was subsequently sold to Greek billionaire John Paul Papanicolaou, owner of Christina O, but was seized by the Croatian government in 2009 for unpaid berthing fees.
Initially slated for auction by the Croatian government at a starting bid of £85,000, Galeb was valued at least £155,000 if sold for scrap. However, its cultural significance mandated that it remain intact. Papanicolaou contested this decision and took the matter to the Supreme Court. Eventually, the city of Rijeka acquired the yacht with plans to transform it into a 'floating museum' at an estimated cost of £8 million. The conversion project, initiated in December 2019 by Marine and Energy Solutions, faced significant delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Interior renovations were handled by Primat RD and Črnelić, while the yacht's original furnishings were restored by a specialized company in collaboration with the Conservation Department of the Ministry of Culture in Rijeka, Croatia.
The museum is scheduled to open in the first half of 2025 and has been designed by Nikolina Jelavić Mitrović, renowned for his work on the City Museum of Vukovar and the Museum of Sinjska. Constructed in Genoa, Italy in 1938, Galeb began its life as an auxiliary cruiser named Ramb III. It sustained bombing damage during World War II and was later refurbished and repurposed as a school ship for the Yugoslav navy, at which time Tito appropriated it for his personal use in state affairs. Tito is reported to have hosted over 100 world leaders on board Galeb, including Colonel Gaddafi of Libya. He also welcomed Hollywood icons Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton during their peak fame. Galeb even made an appearance on the Thames, mooring at Greenwich, during Tito's state visit to the UK in 1953, marking the first such visit by a communist leader.
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