Syria's traditional boat-makers — in pictures

  • Khaled Bahlawan, 39, works on a vessel at his boatyard on Syria's Mediterranean island of Arwad. All photos by AFP
    Khaled Bahlawan, 39, works on a vessel at his boatyard on Syria's Mediterranean island of Arwad. All photos by AFP
  • The Bahlawans are the only manufacturers of traditional wooden boats on the Syrian coast, a Phoenician craft dating back thousands of years.
    The Bahlawans are the only manufacturers of traditional wooden boats on the Syrian coast, a Phoenician craft dating back thousands of years.
  • Arwad island is about three kilometres off the coast, near the city of Tartus.
    Arwad island is about three kilometres off the coast, near the city of Tartus.
  • Demand for boat-making services has dropped to all but a trickle in recent years.
    Demand for boat-making services has dropped to all but a trickle in recent years.
  • The eight members of the Bahlawan family now share the work, making boats for fishermen, resorts and passenger transport operators.
    The eight members of the Bahlawan family now share the work, making boats for fishermen, resorts and passenger transport operators.
  • Traditional boat-making could disappear altogether as young people emigrate or search for easier, more profitable work.
    Traditional boat-making could disappear altogether as young people emigrate or search for easier, more profitable work.
  • Long power cuts due to years of conflict mean that Khaled Bahlawan cannot use his electrical equipment.
    Long power cuts due to years of conflict mean that Khaled Bahlawan cannot use his electrical equipment.
  • A worker paints a vessel at the family's boatyard.
    A worker paints a vessel at the family's boatyard.
  • Khaled works with his grandfather's manual tools, smoothing the wood by hand rather than with an electric plane.
    Khaled works with his grandfather's manual tools, smoothing the wood by hand rather than with an electric plane.
  • Farouk Bahlawan, Khaled's uncle, said his family had preserved the original shape and structure of ancient Phoenician boats, with a few modifications.
    Farouk Bahlawan, Khaled's uncle, said his family had preserved the original shape and structure of ancient Phoenician boats, with a few modifications.
  • Khaled says 'we are the last family that makes wooden ships and boats in Syria'.
    Khaled says 'we are the last family that makes wooden ships and boats in Syria'.
  • The tradition of building and repairing wooden boats has been in the Bahlawan family for hundreds of years.
    The tradition of building and repairing wooden boats has been in the Bahlawan family for hundreds of years.
  • Farouk Bahlawan says the family used to make four big ships and several boats every year, which would be exported to Cyprus, Turkey and Lebanon.
    Farouk Bahlawan says the family used to make four big ships and several boats every year, which would be exported to Cyprus, Turkey and Lebanon.
  • This year, the family has worked on only one ship.
    This year, the family has worked on only one ship.
  • Hundreds of workers, residents and visitors commute to and from Arwad island every day in wooden boats, mostly built by the Bahlawan family.
    Hundreds of workers, residents and visitors commute to and from Arwad island every day in wooden boats, mostly built by the Bahlawan family.