Special project is developed under the project «Media for Improved Reporting on the Environment and Natural Resources in Central Asia» project funded by the European Union and implemented by Internews
The SEA
of SHIPS
of SHIPS
When the sea started to recede several kilometers per year, the Aral sea fleet was sent for a lay-up to the deepest Aral sea part.
These days the water was 20 meters deep near Jalanash village and in Tushibas bay.
These 'brand new' ships were kept on a lay-out, under protection, ready to raise anchors as soon as the sea is back.
Nowadays, there are hardly 10 old vessels in the Kazakh part of the Aral sea. The majority of ships – 4 small boats – are located near Jalanash village – which is translated from Kazakh as 'bare', 'void'.
They usually bring tourists here who come to see a ship breaking yard or a ship graveyard.
They usually bring tourists here who come to see a ship breaking yard or a ship graveyard.
A SHIP GRAVEYARD NEAR JANALASH VILLAGE,
THE SMALL ARAL SEA
THE SMALL ARAL SEA
Local community has dismantled the whole Aral fleet and sold them for scrap in late 90s – early 2000s. On the one hand, they are not to be blamed for that: there were no jobs available. On the other hand…
Katerina Suvorova, a documentary director, called groups of workers who dismantled ships for scrap 'the Aral Pirates'. The pirates became one of the main characters in her documentary Sea Tomorrow.
Katerina Suvorova, a documentary director, called groups of workers who dismantled ships for scrap 'the Aral Pirates'. The pirates became one of the main characters in her documentary Sea Tomorrow.
Katerina worked at this screenplay and a documentary for six years. She visited the Aral eight times. She spent a week with the team of 'pirates'.
Katerina Suvorova
documentary filmmaker
The crew of Sea Tomorrow in the former Kulandy peninsula in 2010
Katerina's story: when she got to the Aral sea for the first time, there were plenty of boats near Aralsk. The next year half of them disappeared, and a year later, none was left. The director started to look for the people who dismantled and sold the boats for scrap. The crew had a preparatory expedition in 2010 with an objective to find locations and characters for film shoots. Katya was worried then: what will happen if she does not find real 'cutters'? She will have to hire a welding team and bring them to the boats. It was very important for her to show how the boats were turned into scrap metal. But, she did not have to think of anything – the documentarians managed to find real' pirates' in Kulandy peninsula.
Some time ago, Kulandy served as a location for a big military base and a port. The navy sailors delivered equipment and food supplies to Vozrozhdeniye island. There was a secret biological weapons test site in the island. When the sea was gone, a dozen of huge barges and ships were left there.
Some time ago, Kulandy served as a location for a big military base and a port. The navy sailors delivered equipment and food supplies to Vozrozhdeniye island. There was a secret biological weapons test site in the island. When the sea was gone, a dozen of huge barges and ships were left there.
— When we came, we saw people working there, a lot of vehicles coming and going. The work was humming along. We took condensed milk and pretzels that we brought with us in the car, and went to have some tea with them. We said: "We are film makers, we are trying to show the history of this place, and we are very much interested in what you are doing". They, certainly, requested us not to film them. It was unclear whether they work there officially or unofficially. Anyway, we had a good time together, having tea and kidding. They were so happy to have our condensed milk, because they lived there out of reach – no mobile service, no stores or any other things available, because it was a former seabed, miles from nowhere. They seemed to be happy to see us there. And we told them: "If you agree, we will come back for filming here".
During her next visit, Katya spent a week with the team of 'cutters'.
During her next visit, Katya spent a week with the team of 'cutters'.
What an intriguing world they have there. They sometimes have shepherds visiting them and bringing then milk and airan. In general, they live in a specific community – a vacuum, desert community in a space context like in 'Kin-dza-dza' movie.
Katerina Suvorova
documentary filmmaker
Katerina Suvorova notes that her characters – shipwreck cutters – 'dispose' history. The ships do not symbolize anything to them, they are just expendables and an opportunity to provide for their families. Why doesn't the history of the sea where they grew up inspire any respect in them? Katya says that it is because everybody else turned their back on this history.
– These rusty shipwrecks that are super symbols of the tragedy, become a simple sign of the time in their hands. It's the time we live in: a tragedy happened long time ago – the sea dried, the country collapsed. But, the time goes on. And, in the modern times these ships are looked at as a scrap metal.
The tragedy that occurred is not a full stop, it is a line. Things happened in the past, and life moves on. We remember history or forget it or may use lessons learnt.
– These rusty shipwrecks that are super symbols of the tragedy, become a simple sign of the time in their hands. It's the time we live in: a tragedy happened long time ago – the sea dried, the country collapsed. But, the time goes on. And, in the modern times these ships are looked at as a scrap metal.
The tragedy that occurred is not a full stop, it is a line. Things happened in the past, and life moves on. We remember history or forget it or may use lessons learnt.
Video 360, you can watch it on Youtube using 3D-glasses
The leader of the cutters' team was not really listening to Katya's questions during an interview. He was not interested in discussing the ships.
Instead, he told in details what was the right way to cook meat, what bones and parts of a sheep head are given to guests during traditional Kazakh feast and why. He wished he could raise stock. However, during this long summer time he stayed in a huge rusty shipwreck dismantling it.
Instead, he told in details what was the right way to cook meat, what bones and parts of a sheep head are given to guests during traditional Kazakh feast and why. He wished he could raise stock. However, during this long summer time he stayed in a huge rusty shipwreck dismantling it.
Today, when the Small Aral sea is restored – it takes 3.3 thousand square meters, which is 5% of the full Aral sea size back in 1960 – the local community is in fishery business again. However, they use motor boats instead of big ships.