Yapı Kredi

Initiated with the collaboration of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology-INA and the contributions of the Turkish Institute of Nautical Archaeology (TINA) in December 2006, the project intends to recover the wreck of the Frigate Ertuğrul that sank in Japanese waters in 1890. Additionally, the project serves to honour the martyred sailors and survivors of the disaster along with the Japanese anglers who helped them, both in Japan and in Turkey.

The research studies and dives are performed by a team of leading national and international figures in field of nautical archaeology. In addition to nautical studies, other activities are carried out in order to refresh the collective memory regarding the Frigate Ertuğrul. Two of these activities were the “Meeting of the Relatives of the Ertuğrul Crew” held on January 3, 2008 and a children's book prepared with the support of the Yapı Kredi Culture & Art Publishing to enlighten the next generations about the Frigate Ertuğrul. The Frigate Ertuğrul Project is also supported and closely monitored by government authorities. President Abdullah Gül, visited the city of Kushimoto in June 2008 as part of his trip to Japan. He attended the ceremony at the Ertuğrul Monument and visited the Ertuğrul Museum.

The project won the first prize in the “Sponsorship” category at the Golden World Awards organized by the International Public Relations Association-IPRA.