The 65-year-old Funchal, a historic passenger ship, has been sold for dismantling in Turkey after failed revival attempts in Portugal.
The 65-year-old historic passenger ship Funchal, which has not been used for a long time in Portugal, has been sold to be dismantled in Aliağa, İzmir. The ship, which has previously faced numerous unsuccessful attempts to be reactivated, will see the end of its maritime career.
The final destination of the 65-year-old historic passenger ship Funchal, which has been waiting in Portugal and could not be reactivated despite many projects, is Turkey. The ship will be dismantled at shipbreaking facilities in the Aliağa district of İzmir.
Sold at auction in Lisbon
Built in Denmark in 1961 and measuring 155 meters in length, Funchal was sold for approximately 808,000 euros at an auction held in Lisbon on October 9, 2026. The ship was purchased by a company operating in the shipbreaking sector in Turkey. The plan is to bring the ship, which has not carried regular passengers for about 11 years, to Aliağa for dismantling. Previous buyers' attempts to reactivate the ship ended in failure.
The historic journey is coming to an end
Funchal, one of the significant works of Portuguese maritime history, operated for many years on routes between Lisbon and Madeira and the Azores. The ship also gained notoriety in 1972 when it transported the remains of Brazil's first emperor, Pedro I, back to his country. Although various projects were developed in recent years to convert the ship into a floating hotel and contribute to tourism, these plans could not be realized due to financial obstacles. The bankruptcy of the ship's last owner, Teamson, necessitated the decision to sell. When the ship arrives in Aliağa, its 65-year maritime career will come to an end. However, it is still unclear when it will reach Turkey.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
