The dockyards of Corfu: Karnayia

Corfu has been a naval power since antiquity. The ships of the Corfiot fleet would cross the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas, demonstrating the power and glory of the island.

The keels were made of wood and were built by local islanders with love and devotion. These pioneer shipbuilders worked with trunks, which they turned into beautiful, seaworthy ships.

Through the centuries this craft, so important for the commerce and economy of the island would traditionally pass from father to son.

Today, the dockyards of Corfu, the karnayia, are located next to the New Port, on the outskirts of Corfu Town.
We, the inhabitants of the island, have great respect for the traditions of Corfu, sons of fishermen most of us, and we would like to share our experience of the karnayia with you. We also want to introduce you to this fascinating skil, which has defied time and still remains extremely important for the island.        

Most of the boats built in Corfu are made of wood, and thanks to the dedication and care of the old shipbuilders, can be kept and maintained.

At Corfu’s dockyards we met Mr. Spiros, who is 75 years old and still continues to work because, as he puts it himself, “if I don’t, I will become miserable and I will die.”
The craftsman shows us the vaza, which are large pieces of wood, which the ships are put on when they come in for maintenance. In the past, a very simple, wooden mechanism known as ergatis would have been used. (PHOTO)
Four or five men would turn the ergatis for the wire rope of the hoisting to be reeled around, dragging the ship onto land.
Today, electrically powered winches have replaced the old ergatis, which makes things much easier.

Mr Spiros showed us the simple, traditional way, with which the old craftsmen used to build the wooden ships. A piece of wood, the sesto, which carried marks of instruction known only to the shipbuilders, and an instrument of horizontals were the basic models for the construction of the ship.
“I have built one hundred ships,” Mr. Spiros told us with pride. “Big and small, but all of them beautiful. I have put love into it”.

The old shipbuilder moved us with his philosophy, upon which he has based the work of a whole life. He taught us a lesson that whatever a human being creates with love and care can only be beautiful and real.
Today, his sons George and Oto are working at the same dockyard Mr. Spiros worked at as a young man. Kiriakos, Kostas and George all work at the karnayia too, and are masters of this rare art, which has produced proud and magnificent ships that crossed the seas for centuries.

The Corfiot dockyards of today house many wooden keels, on which maintenance is carried out when needed. The simple fishermen as well as the owners of expensive wooden yachts, pay great respect to these workers.
Their craft is unique and will be necessary for as long as there are wooden ships.

It is very easy today for someone to own a plastic boat because the maintenance is much simpler. Nevertheless, the love for the wooden keels makes a lot of young people who admire traditional ships to order a good seaworthy ship made of wood.

These old shipbuilders are carrying our precious tradition, the soul of our island, and therefore they have a special place in our hearts.
We owe them respect and appreciation because they have kept an old art untouched by time with their hard work.

The tradition of a place is its roots. We all have to value their work and do our best for them so this unique craft can continue. Thanks to them, we may still see ships of amazing beauty sail the seas.

By Thomas Katsaros