By Mark Brunga
Memorie.al / He founded the first modern shipyard. But his story would end tragically. After a trial staged by the State Security, he was sentenced to death together with economist Taqi Koçi and 5 days later, they were shot in the hospital, at the canal of the old cemetery of Durrës. If we were to look for a representative company name for the city of Durrës, after the Port, we would undoubtedly stop at the Shipyard of this city. The shipyard is a symbolic company, with an early historical past, which today, after its destruction, is remembered more by those who worked there over the years, with much consideration and nostalgia at the same time.
In 1944, this company took its place in the square between the seashore and the National Bank and gathered a collective of Durrës craftsmen and workers, who were distinguished for their civic values. Over the following years, the workers of this shipyard, led by the most skilled craftsmen, managed to repair but also build various types of ships, from the smallest, to fishing boats and then, to ocean-going ships, thus showing remarkable creative work values.
The Naval Shipyard began its activity after the war, in December 1944, and the beginning also had a tragic event…! It was the young man from Durrës, 22-year-old Tom Goga, who took the initiative to create it, bringing together Italian and Albanian craftsmen, who had been involved in the repair of naval vessels during the war. On May 13, 1945, the shipyard inaugurated the launch at sea of the 75-ton motor sailboat “Misiri 2”, commissioned by the owner, Riza Jakupi.
At that time, very good words were said about the shipyard workers, the Italian engineer, Rafaele Vangnini and Tom Goga, whom the press of the time described as an engineer. Important state figures of that period participated in this inauguration, such as; Koçi Xoxe and Bedri Spahiu. From the chronicles of the time it is learned that: “From the authorities of that period, Lieutenant General Koçi Xoxe was present, while the speech of the occasion was given by Major General, Bedri Spahiu”.
After this inauguration that same month, the 70-ton motor sailboat “Kalamishi” was launched into the sea, while in June 1945, UNRRA granted Albania 6 small ships. The maritime sector of ATASH took delivery of 2 ships, 2 tugboats, each 20 meters long and 2 barges of 200 tons.
SHOOTINGS AND THE CAMPUS OF THE SITE
Few people in the current generation have had the opportunity to see Tom Goga physically, but he has been talked about a lot. Ilir Kavaja, a resident of neighborhood no. 2 of Durrës, has a family connection with Tom Goga. His mother, Kalypso, had a son.
And Ilir kept some interesting photos in his house, where Tom Goga was also present. In one of them, Toma was escorting the bride, Kalypso, and after the photo, it is written: “Memory from the wedding celebrated in Durrës, on 21/7/1942. Leaving Kalypso’s house”. Toma is next to the bride and is wearing a light suit, close to beige, with a double-breasted jacket, which were very fashionable at that time.
The ceremony is taking place near the Catholic Cathedral “Saint Lucia”. Toma is a very charming guy, perhaps one of the most “trendy” guys in the city at that time, as can be seen from the photos. A year later, Toma appears in another photo but now with the status of an engaged man. There are 2 photos with his fiancée, Jolanda. Here he is more relaxed than in the wedding ceremony, still wearing revealing clothes, while accompanied by his fiancée.
These are photos that are being published exclusively for the first time. Iliri says that at the end of 1946, Toma was arrested and a trial was staged by the State Security of Koçi Xoxe. As a pretext, Iliri continues, the repair of an Italian ship was used, and he was accused of not having paid the state the amount of taxes he owed.
He was sentenced to death together with the economist Taqi Koçi, in a farce court session, held on December 27, 1946 and 5 days later, exactly on New Year’s Eve, on December 31, they were shot in the hospital, at the canal of the old cemetery of Durrës, behind the former carpentry. This was the tragic fate of the founder of the modern shipyard of Durrës.
Regarding this serious event, it was written in the press that in January 1946, the Tom Goga shipyard was nationalized and was called; “The Albanian Navy Shipyard”.
THE INCIDENT WITH THE SHIP “ALI KELMENDI”
What the working climate was like in the shipyard under the spirit of fear is also shown by a very interesting detail. It is about the incident with the 500-ton wooden ship, “Ali Kelmendi”. An unfortunate incident occurred with this newly built ship. Its design and construction were directed by the master Odise Moneta, who came to Durrës after the war.
He had two sons in America, while his wife was Italian. Odise was a very prepared and talented master. He worked honestly and faced all difficulties. When the ship was being launched into the sea, sliding over the launching bridge, it split into two parts. After that, Odise and several others were arrested, on charges of sabotage. But in fact the cause had been a structure attached to the launching bridge, which when the ship was launched over it, caused it to crack. Odise was convicted, but still worked at the shipyard accompanied by a policeman. Later he was allowed to leave for America, to his sons.
THE GRADUAL INCREASE OF THE SHIPYARD’S CAPACITY
With the return of a group of young engineers who had studied in Russia, Bulgaria and Poland, for the construction of naval vessels, the construction of new vessels and the introduction of advanced technologies, the variety of services and construction of floating vessels increased. In 1960, courses were opened to improve professional skills with theoretical and practical programs for motorists, electricians, boat mechanics, welders, oxygen technicians, crane operators, etc.
Later, a good part of these trainees served in the Merchant Navy. In 1968, the metal ship “Punëtori” was produced and then the first tugboat of Albanian production was launched into the sea, “14 Nentori” by “Debatik”, with a power of 1000 horsepower and a length of 32 meters. In 1970, the repair of the 5,000-ton ship “Durrësi” began a repair that demonstrated the increased skills of the employees of the Shipyard, which was already beginning to enter the period of repair of ocean-going ships.
THE NEW SHIPYARD
In 1974, the Shipyard was transferred to the square across from the fishing port, near the eastern quay. This was done after 30 years of its experience and for this purpose large-sized ladders were built, on which the ships “Saranda” 1,000 DWT and “Gjirokastra”, 2,700 DWT were launched into the sea.
Later, developments at the Shipyard continued with the creation of the department for the repair of steamships and large marine vessels, which managed to carry out major repairs of tugboats, barges, the barge “Adem Reka”, the dredges “Rodon” and “Adriatic”, 500-ton ships, the steamers “Durrësi”, “Partizani”, “Liria”, etc.
Major works were also carried out on the ocean-going ships “Tirana”, “Vlora”, “Shkodra”, and “Arbëria”. The establishment of the new products department was of great value, because there the construction of many marine vehicles was carried out, up to series, such as pilot boats, fishing boats KP 300, fishing boats 2KP- 408, 500-ton ships such as “Ali Kelmendi”, “Vjosa”, “Ylli i Kuq”, “Dajti”, “Bajram Curri”, “Beqir Nova”, “Adriatiku”, “Tomorri”, various ferries for the lake areas in the north, and the gates of the northern H/Cs were designed and manufactured.
CLOSING UP
In 1991, the shipyard was transferred to the Durrës – Gdansk joint venture, and then when the Gdansk shares were transferred to the Turkish company “Korum”, the shipyard took the name “Durrës – Kurum shipping” and then went towards the closure of construction activities. The entire shipyard went for scrap. And the buildings were flattened, turning that area into a sad plain.
The representative of the Fishermen’s Union, Klodjan Kapiti, emphasizes that; of the 140 marine vessels that the fishery had, half of them are out of operation, due to the lack of a shipyard, the elimination of which has been deadly for the fishing of the city of Durrës. This is because, now, fishing vessels for repairs must be sent to shipyards in neighboring countries, with multiplied costs, unaffordable for many owners.
He calls allowing the elimination of the shipyard by entrepreneurs an economic crime: “It’s the same as leaving a city without a hospital”, – he expresses regret. This is the history of this shipyard, one of the largest creative centers of the coastal city and a symbol of Durrës’ youth, where about 4,000 employees worked, a history that began with the shooting of its first owner Tom Goga and was completely extinguished 70 years later! Memorie.al
