Wreck of an Hanseatic Merchant Vessel

On 31 March 2022, one of Europe’s largest medieval shipwrecks and one of the world's largest ship finds was unearthed during the construction of an office building at 8 Lootsi Street in Tallinn.

Dendrochronological research showed that the oldest parts of the ship date back to 1363. As some of the oak beams that had been transported as cargo were also preserved on board, samples taken from the ship showed that it probably sank around 1375. The wreck is 24.5 metres long, 9 metres wide, 4 metres high, and weighs 97.7 tonnes. The wreck was located approximately 1.5 metres below the surface.

Several unique finds were discovered in addition to the shipwreck – for example, a metal compass with a compass card and tar with the remains of ship rats.

The ship was divided into four parts to transport it to the museum. The necessary preparations took a little over 3 months and it took 13 hours to transport the parts.

Since 5 July 2022, the wreck of the medieval merchant ship is located in the Seaplane Harbour of the Estonian Maritime Museum, where it will be conserved and then exhibited in the new ship hall of the museum.