A GRACEFUL PALACE ON WATER WITH A HISTORY OF OVER 100 YEARS

Following the failure of the Gallipoli campaign, Waterwitch played a key role in assisting with the evacuation of Allied troops. She was then sent to Thessaloniki, Greece, where she served as an RFA tender, supporting British forces in Macedonia during the final stages of the war.

After the First World War ended in 1918, Waterwitch continued in service as a fleet messenger for British warships occupying Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. With the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Waterwitch was finally returned to her rightful owners in August 1923 and renamed Halas, meaning Salvation. She then assumed her intended role as a passenger ferry in Istanbul. Over the next 60 years, this Scottish-built vessel became an integral part of daily life in the city, transporting thousands of passengers across the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia.

By 1984, Halas had reached the end of her life as a ferry and was laid up, facing likely demolition. Turkish publisher Haldun Simavi and his wife Cgdem rescued the vessel from the breakers and transformed her into a luxury motor yacht. In 2010, she was extensively refurbished by her new owners, the late Mustafa Koç and his wife Caroline. Today, Halas operates commercially out of Istanbul, serving both as a luxury coastal cruise ship and an exclusive venue for special events.

Halas can accommodate up to 24 passengers in 12 elegantly appointed suites and cabins, and she hosts up to 120 guests for private events, including corporate dinners, anniversaries, and weddings. Over the years, Halas has welcomed numerous international VIPs, including members of royal families and heads of state.

Although other ships survived the seaborne invasion of Gallipoli, Halas is the only one still sailing today. In 2017, she was officially recognized by National Historic Ships UK and placed on their Overseas Watch List in acknowledgment of her exceptional historical significance.