TCG Effort Warship

(The Gayret Ship) Built by the United States on May 10, 1946, the ship was named USA Everson. Everson participated in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. On July 11, 1973, after visiting ports in Panama, Puerto Rico, the Azores, and Spain, USA Everson was transferred to the Turkish Naval Command and renamed TCG Gayret.

Between 1975 and 1995, TCG Gayret participated in numerous national and NATO exercises. On May 5, 1995, the ship was decommissioned and stored in Poyraz Harbor. In January 1997, it was transformed into a Floating Arts Gallery and Museum by the Gölcük Naval Command, the Kocaeli Governorship, and the İzmit Metropolitan Municipality. The bridge, combat operations center, commander's cabin, engine room, galley, and laundry have been preserved in their original form, and mannequins in uniforms representing the ship's personnel have been placed in these areas to bring the spaces to life. A twin-barreled gun, manned by nine crew members during wartime, greets us, and with our guide, we began our tour of the ship's interior.

The ship's three-section enlisted quarters have been converted into a visual exhibition area as part of a museum transformation. One section displays various ship models that fascinate us, another features panels depicting Turkish maritime history, and the third exhibits various objects used in maritime activities. The walls of the officer's quarters, which have been transformed into the Atatürk Vertex and honorary section, are adorned with writings and pictures of Mustafa Kemal.