El Mahrousa facts for kids
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A wireless telegraph was installed in 1912
El Mahrousa (which means "The Protected" in Arabic) is a very special super yacht. It serves as Egypt's official presidential yacht. Before that, it was the country's royal yacht. This amazing ship was built by a British company called Samuda Brothers in London. It was ordered in 1863 by Khedive Isma'il Pasha, who was the ruler of Egypt at the time. The ship was given to its Egyptian crew two years later.
El Mahrousa has been changed and updated many times over the years. For example, its original engines were replaced with powerful turbines in 1905. A wireless telegraph was added in 1912, which was very modern for its time. Later, in 1919, it got a diesel-powered system. The yacht was also made longer several times.
This yacht has seen a lot of Egypt's modern history. It carried three Egyptian rulers into exile: Khedive Ismail, Khedive Abbas II, and King Farouk I. King Farouk's newborn son, Fuad II, was also on board. This happened after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, which ended the monarchy in Egypt. After the revolution, the yacht joined the Egyptian Navy and was renamed El Horreya (meaning "Freedom" or "Liberty").
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Egypt |
|
| Name | El Mahrousa |
| Builder | Samuda Brothers, Cubitt Town, London |
| Laid down | 1863 |
| Launched | 1865 |
| Reclassified | Rebuilt 1951 and became a naval training vessel |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 4561 GT |
| Displacement | 3,762 tons |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Draught | 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) |
| Propulsion | Steam turbine, 3 screw propellers, 6,500 hp (4,800 kW) |
| Speed |
|
| Crew | 160 |
A Yacht Through History
Early Voyages and Royal Connections
El Mahrousa was built on the River Thames in London. Its design was similar to another royal ship, the HMY Victoria and Albert. In 1867, the yacht went on its first important trip. It carried Egyptian soldiers to help during a revolt in Crete. Two years later, Khedive Ismail Pasha used the ship to invite European royals to the opening of the famous Suez Canal.
Serving the Nation
After King Farouk left Egypt, he sent the yacht back. The Egyptian government then used it as a training ship for the navy. Its name was changed to El Horreya. The yacht mostly stayed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. However, it did travel to the United States of America in 1976. It took part in a special naval parade to celebrate America's 200th birthday.
Many important people have been on board this yacht. These include Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, King Ibn Saud, Josip Broz Tito, and Menachem Begin. In 1984, El Mahrousa lost its title as the largest super yacht in the world. It had held that record for 119 years! Even so, it is still the oldest active super yacht and one of the largest in the world.
The Egyptian Navy takes great care of El Mahrousa. It is still sometimes used as the Presidential Yacht. The ship usually goes out to sea about three times a year, often just for a day. On September 10, 2000, President Hosni Mubarak visited the yacht. He decided to change its name back to its original name, El Mahrousa. On August 6, 2015, the ship had another special moment. It was the first ship to cross the new extension of the New Suez Canal.
Changes Over Time
Making the Yacht Longer
El Mahrousa was made longer twice in its history. First, in 1872, it was extended by 12 metres (40 ft). Then, in 1905, another 5.0 metres (16.5 ft) was added. The 1905 changes were done in Glasgow, Scotland. During this time, the ship's two old paddle wheels were removed. They were replaced with three propellers powered by modern steam turbines. This made the yacht much faster and more efficient.
See also
- List of motor yachts by length
