The Viking ships in Norway are undergoing a delicate and high-stakes relocation to a new, state-of-the-art museum in Oslo to ensure their preservation. The move, which involves a painstaking journey for each vessel, is a critical effort to protect these fragile artifacts from further deterioration.
The Relocation Project
Three historically significant Viking ships—the Oseberg, Gokstad, and Tune—are being moved from the old Viking Ship Museum to the new Museum of the Viking Age. The old facility was deemed unsuitable due to its small size and damaging environmental conditions, including humidity and vibrations that were threatening the structural integrity of the ships. The new museum, set to open in 2027, will provide a climate-controlled environment to protect the ships for at least another century.
The Moving Process
The move is an exceptionally delicate operation. The first ship, the Oseberg, is being transferred in a slow, 100-meter journey that is expected to take over ten hours. The ship’s fragile oak hull is suspended in a massive 50-ton steel rig and moved by a ceiling-mounted crane. To prevent damage to the clinker-built hulls, the ships are moved at an extremely slow pace of 5.5 minutes per meter, a speed that makes the movement almost imperceptible. An oil services company with experience in high-precision work is assisting to ensure the move is carried out with the utmost care, similar to the precision required for moving sensitive medical equipment.
The Three Ships
The three vessels were all discovered in burial mounds near Oslo and are named after their excavation sites. The Oseberg, discovered in 1904, is the best preserved and is known for its intricate carvings. The Gokstad is the largest of the three, measuring 23 meters long and capable of holding 32 rowers. The Tune, found between 1867 and 1904, is the most decomposed but is believed to have been a very fast warship. The relocation of the Oseberg has started, with the Gokstad and Tune scheduled to be moved later in the year and in 2026, respectively.
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Source: Marine Insight
