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The world's largest medieval merchant ship has been found off the coast of Denmark

The world's largest medieval merchant ship has been found off the coast of Denmark

18 January 2026, 19:33

The world's largest medieval merchant ship has been found off the coast of Denmark — Sunken wooden ship

Marine archaeologists have discovered a unique 15th-century ship in Danish waters, which has lain almost intact on the seabed for more than six centuries.

Off the coast of Denmark, marine archaeologists have discovered a huge sunken ship dating back around 600 years, believed to be the largest medieval cog-type merchant ship ever found in the world. The discovery was reported by the Daily Mail.

The ship, named "Svelget 2", was built around 1410. It is 28 metres long and, according to researchers' estimates, had a carrying capacity of around 300 tonnes. The ship is in exceptionally good condition because it has been lying at a depth of about 13 metres for centuries, covered by a protective layer of sand.

Archaeologists note that this find is of particular importance for maritime archaeology, as it allows for a detailed study of the construction of large medieval merchant ships and a better understanding of how life was organised on board.

During the research, numerous artefacts were found on and near the ship: painted wooden bowls, shoes, combs, bronze cauldrons, and a brick galley stove. Such items indicate a fairly high level of domestic comfort, atypical for the ideas about seafaring of that era.

At the same time, archaeologists found no ballast or cargo remains. This suggests that the ship was carrying goods that could have floated to the surface during the disaster, leaving the ship empty at the time of sinking.

Medieval ship, Denmark, marine archaeology

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