I worked on this article due to the painting of the 'Müşteri' ship among nearly 200 oil paintings of Turkish-flagged vessels created by the artist Erdem Cever. Even if I do not hope to see it, it is expected that this cultured gentleman, who deserves many thanks and appreciation like Erdem Cever, will contribute this collection to a maritime museum. The 'Müşteri' ship, which only had 2 years left under the Turkish flag, sank on May 30, 1898, after running aground at the Al Buhayrat shallows, known as 'Büyük Resif' near Jeddah.

The Al Buhayrat area, located off the coast of Obhur, has become a popular diving site today, recognized as one of the most vibrant underwater heritages of the Red Sea ecosystem. Since the 18th century, dives have been conducted on the wrecks that have run aground in this rocky area, with some wrecks being visually recorded, while others are documented in the Saudi Arabia Jawharat Al-Buhayrat Shipwrecks archive. I believe that if a detailed investigation is conducted, it would be possible to access photographs or video recordings related to the 'Müşteri' shipwreck.

The 'Müşteri' was primarily one of the ships operating for pilgrims. More precise information can be obtained from the Prime Ministry Ottoman State Archives.

In the UK National Archives documents, the Caledonian Shipping Trust archives, and the Lloyd’s Register of Shipping annuals, the registration record of this ship states that 'Müşteri' belonged to the Şirket-i Hayriye İdaresi in 1908. This creates a contradiction.

The ships from the İdare-i Mahsusa period included: Anadolu, Zafer, Ceylan, Bozcaada, Kadiriye, Cidde, Şark, Girit, Bahr-I Cedid, Firaz-I Osmaniye, Kamil Paşa, Ali Saip Paşa, Söğütlü, Hasan Paşa, Kaplan, Bingazi, Silivri, Tunç, İstinye, Gedikler, Yenikapı, Aslan, Pars, Mesud, Tekirdağ, Plevne, Nimet-i Huda, Edremit, Selanik, Kadiköy, Nimet, İnebolu, Sofular, Gelibolu, Erenköy, Bartın, İzmir, Kalamış, Marmara, Mekke, Bandırma, Fenerbahçe, Haydarpaşa, Asur, İnayet, Tarsus, Adana, Aydın, Selamet, Hudeyde, Saadet, Mürüvvet, Şerif, Taif, Sakız, Midilli, Canik, Şark, Biga, Samsun, Çeşme, Eser-I Cedid, Şahin, Anadolu, Ferah, Mersin, Eser-I Şevket, Burgaz, Garp, Kosova, Afrika, San’a, Kumkapı, Darıca, İhsan, Neveser, Zonguldak, Yeşilırmak, Tir-i Müjgan, Mürvet, Halep, Şam, Bezm-i Alem, Sakarya, and Şahadet. The list of ships belonging to the Ottoman Seyr-i Sefain İdaresi does not include the 'Müşteri.' However, as recorded in the annuals and the Caledonian Shipping Trust archives, there was indeed a ship named 'Müşteri.'

The registration record of 'Müşteri' in the Clyde Built Ships - Caledon Ship Buildings Trust archives is as follows:

- The cargo/passenger ship 'Princess Ena,' built in 1898 at the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. shipyard in Dundee with Slip No. 138, was launched on March 25, 1898, and was ready for service in June 1908.

- The ship had a gross tonnage of 636 grt, a net tonnage of 143 nrt, a length of 200 ft, a width of 29.1 ft, and a depth of 13.5 ft, and was a single-screw steel hull vessel. The T3 cyl. main steam engine made by Dundee, Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. produced a maximum power of 116 nhp.

- The first shipowner company was Glasgow-based M. Langlands & Sons Co., and Princess Ena was registered at the port of Glasgow.

- In 1908, it was purchased by the Ottoman İdare-i Mahsusa and renamed 'Müşteri.' While transporting pilgrims to Jeddah, it ran aground at the Al-Buhayrat reefs in the Red Sea on May 30, 1909, and sank.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye