Greek Ship

The Greek Ship is one of the tourist icons of Kish Island. It ran aground near the village of Baghoo on 4 Mordad 1345 and never returned to the sea. Since then, the ship and the spectacular sunset behind it have become one of the island's most popular attractions. For years, tourists have spent their evenings beside the ship, and the Kish Municipality has built a park next to it for visitors' comfort. However, after almost six decades of exposure to humidity, decay and harsh weather, the ship's hull broke in two in Azar 1403.

The ship was built in 1322 (Solar Hijri) by William Hamilton & Co. in Glasgow, Scotland. When built, it weighed about 7,061 tons and was 136 metres long. Over the years it passed through the hands of various owners, including British and Iranian ones, and finally came under a Greek owner, which is why it is known as the “Greek Ship”. It has carried several names, such as “Empire Trumpet”, “Naturalist”, “Kourosh Parsi” (Cyrus the Persian), “Hamedan” and, finally, “Kola F” when it ran aground. Even so, the exact cause of the incident that left the ship stranded on Kish's shore remains unknown. There are various accounts of why it ran aground. Some locals believe that thick fog and the lack of a lighthouse on the coast caused the ship to hit the island's sandy shore. Others speculate that, because the ship was heavily insured with Lloyd's of London, the crew may have deliberately put it out of service. Whatever the true reason, the Greek Ship is today one of Kish Island's most evocative and nostalgic symbols.

Today only the worn iron skeleton of the ship remains, but even this has become an iconic tourist attraction for the island. The best time to visit the Greek Ship is at sunset, when the golden light of the sun falls on the ship's rusted hull and creates a poetic scene. Around the site there are a variety of amenities and recreational facilities, such as cafés, a walking path and photography spots, making it a pleasant place for families and travellers.