KARACHI: Turkish Navy frigate TCG Gediz arrived at the Karachi Port on Wednesday.

The ship, on a goodwill visit (April 15 to 18) to Pakistan, was accorded a warm welcome and received by Turkish Consul General in Pakistan and senior officials of the Pakistan Navy.

The visit of the frigate is part of the commemoration activities of the 125th anniversary of the voyage of Frigate Ertuğrul to Japan. During its 122-day mission started on April 1 from the Port of Aksaz, TCG Gediz will visit 18 ports in 14 countries and cover 20.300 nautical miles.

The voyage of Frigate Ertuğrul of the Ottoman Empire to Japan in the late 19th century ended up tragically as the ship was caught by a typhoon. The ship sunk on Sept 16, 1890, near the Japanese port of Kushimoto, leaving 531 Ottoman sailors dead. Only 69 of the crew survived.

A visit of Vice Admiral Hasan Sukru Korlu, Commander Turkish Northern Sea Area, is also planned concurrent to the ship’s visit. The dignitary, during his visit, will meet senior naval officials/field commanders at Karachi and will also visit Pakistan and Turkish Navy ships.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2015

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