The "Bandırma" ferry was a small boat built in Paisley, England. The steamer, which once belonged to a British company, was first named "Trokodero" then "Kymi" and it became "Pandarme" after a Greek from Istanbul purchased it. Finally, the steamer was named "Bandırma" when it passed to Seyr-i Sefain (Ottoman Maritime Lines). 

On Monday morning, 19 May 1919 at 08:15, the "Bandırma" ferry steamer anchored at Dil Dock, Samsun. Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his companions-at-arms boarded single¬masted boats and went ashore at the Dil Dock (Reji), built by the French. Today the First Step (ilk Adım)

Monument stands there, between Samsun Grand Hotel and Yaşar Doğu Sport Center.

Nobody knew that this young general landing in Samsun on 19 May 1919 was going to start the Independence movement. His official duty was to put order to and gain control of revolutionary gangs in and around Samsun. His official title was Inspector of the Army.