Saddam Hussein's Luxury Yacht Transformed into a Sailors' Hotel

In a large yacht once owned by Saddam Hussein, the former dictator of Iraq, the spacious bed is neatly arranged, with silk curtains drawn aside, and in a bathroom adjacent to the bedroom, adorned with gold-plated fixtures, a barber's chair awaits the next customer. The 82-meter yacht, named 'Naseem Basra', was built for him in 1981, but Saddam never boarded it. Now, sailors guiding ships in the port of Basra are utilizing the luxurious amenities of this yacht. Saddam Hussein was overthrown as a result of the U.S. military operations and the occupation of Iraq in 2003, and three years later he was executed on charges of 'crimes against humanity'. However, the governments that have come to power in Iraq since then have failed to find appropriate uses for this yacht and other treasures left by Saddam. Since 2010, following a lengthy legal battle, Iraq reclaimed this yacht, which has been anchored unused in the Basra harbor. This large yacht includes a private suite for Saddam, 17 smaller rooms for guests, 18 cabins for sailors, and even a small clinic, decorated with luxury and expensive items, and was once put up for sale at a price of $30 million. The Iraqi government could not find a buyer for it, and for the past two years, 'Naseem Basra' has served as accommodation for researchers from Basra University who have come to the port to study marine life. Captain Abdul Mahdi Saleh states, 'This yacht is in very good condition. Its two engines and generators are functioning well. It just needs periodic maintenance and repairs.' Iraqi officials have now decided to allocate it as a residence and resting place for the captains of Basra port, many of whom live in remote areas. A spokesperson for Basra port facilities says, 'The port needs a place for the rest of the sailors of guiding vessels.' Port officials say this yacht was built by a Danish company and was moved to avoid damage to Saudi Arabia, which was then an ally of Saddam Hussein, during the Iran-Iraq War. After relations soured due to Saddam's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia handed the yacht over to Jordan. The transfer of this yacht after that date is unclear until the Iraqi government tracked it down to the shores of Nice in France, and following a complaint from the Baghdad government, a court seized it and returned it to Iraq. However, another yacht belonging to Saddam named 'Al-Mansour', which was also never used, was severely damaged during U.S. airstrikes on Iraq and its remains were stolen in the chaotic aftermath of Saddam's fall. In 2003, Saddam ordered this yacht to be moved from Umm Qasr to Basra port in hopes of avoiding damage during bombings. Now, the Basra city museum, established in one of Saddam's palaces overlooking the Shatt al-Arab (Arvand River), is trying to convince Basra port officials to donate 'Naseem Basra' to the museum so it can be used as part of an exhibition. The deputy director of the Basra museum says, 'Future generations can see how a dictator lived.'