Century-old wartime tug rises from Serbian river as water levels plunge

Wreck Revealed Again

A century-old wartime tug has emerged from Serbia’s Sava River as falling water levels exposed its rusting hull near Jarak.

Footage shows locals wading through shallow water and approaching the remains of the Slovenac, built in Budapest in 1913.

For nearby residents, the wreck has long been part of local folklore. Nenad Lukic, from Savarice, recalled seeing it as a child.

“We imagined this ship with ghosts, and sometimes we were afraid of it. When we were children, we were scared of it and didn’t dare go near it,” he noted.

Ship’s Wartime Past

Originally built as the Vag, the paddle-wheel tug was renamed Slovenac in 1921 after joining the fleet of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

The vessel later saw service during the Second World War and was reportedly sunk more than once before its final loss near Jarak.

Lukic said stories about the ship have been passed down for generations, including claims that it carried wounded people and that locals witnessed its final explosion.

Historic River Mystery

“Most of the locals know the whole history of this ship,” he said.

Local historical accounts say the Slovenac struck a mine on April 25, 1945, near Jarak and sank close to the right bank of the Sava, where the wreck has remained for more than 80 years.

Article by Viory