The « Golden Boat » of Kuakata

 Buried for more than 150 years under the sand of Kuakata’s beach, South-West of Bangladesh, this wreck was partially discovered thanks to erosion that was caused by a violent storm in June 2012, before getting covered again under alluviums. Yves Marre, alerted by this astonishing discovery, raises an expedition, with the archeology department and Admiral Taher – ex Commander in Chief of Bangladesh’s fleet – to perform the excavation of this naval history treasure. Thereby, in February 2013, with the help of nearly fifty carpenters and assistants from Nagarbary and without any real technical means nor financial funds, he started a race against the elements to dig out the “Golden Boat” (name given to boat due to its copper linings) before the dangerous seasons started with tropical storms, cyclones and monsoons.

Conscious witness of Bangladesh’s naval heritage richness, Yves Marre succeeded to persuade the public services to preserve and enhance this boat that is the oldest from Bangladesh’s fleet. The army then moved the wreck to the center of Kuakata village, near the buddhist temple of the Rakain community. The minister of “Water Development Board”, from the local authorities, inaugurated a monument to confirm the construction of a museum that would protect the wreck during a ceremony introduced by Yves.