The Wreck of the Al-Mansur

Looking out at the Shatt al-Arab waterway, one may be surprised to find a rusty capsized mega yacht. Translating to “The Victor” in English, this colossal ruin of a ship is none other than the Al-Mansur, one of many yachts in the collection of the late Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.

The Al-Mansur, designed by Knud E. Hansen in Denmark, was built in 1983 by Wärtsilä at Perno shipyard in Finland. The yacht measured 121.1 metres in length, weighed 7,539 tonnes, and was designed to accommodate a crew of 60. Whilst it was a functioning vessel, the yacht sported a glass-domed atrium, a banquet hall, a garage, as well as a helipad with a hangar. The yacht was designed to symbolise Hussein’s authority and power.

During the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, however, the Al-Mansur was targeted by the U.S. Air Force in an effort to sink it. Despite sustaining heavy damage, the yacht remained afloat after the bombing. Two years after the attacks, the Al-Mansur was scuttled in Basra. It now lies as a wreck in the Shatt al-Arab.

The remains of the Al-Mansur are currently under the ownership of the Iraqi government, which has not announced any plans for its removal as of late. Local fishermen use the exposed decks for fishing, while opinions among Iraqis vary—some advocate for preserving the wreck as a historical relic, while others argue it should remain untouched in the river.