Tallinn Cog June 2019 update

In Tallinn again, working on the Cog-project, which has proceeded nicely since our last update, when we witnessed the wreck’s transport from Lennusadam to the final exhibition location in Fat Margareta branch of Estonian Maritime Museum. That went really smoothly, the whole thing was hoisted successfully over old town walls to the tight spot, where visitors will soon get an amazingly good access to this early 14th century wonder of a shipwreck. She is such a beauty, that has been clear from the start, but now, walking underneath the ship, which appears to float in air thanks to ingenious and daring design of the space, gave us a totally new angle to the familiar wreck. The planks she’s made of are indeed huge, and the propel-like curve they’ve been forced into is simply amazing. What craftsmanship!

Eero Ehanti underneath the cog. Note supporting beam the ship rests on. Photo: Heikki Häyhä

The exhibition space starts to take its form as construction works proceed. In addition to the frog-perspective view, visitors will be able to walk around the wreck and climb high enough to see the very detail-rich insides of the hull. What a museum this will be, a true window to medieval Europe!

Heikki Häyhä inspecting the plastic-covered cog. Photo: Eero Ehanti

As we were there, SRC company responsible of the ship’s supporting steel structure were finishing their bit by installing and adjusting supporting cables from the steel frame to the hall’s ceiling beams. The whole supporting structure is quite elegant. There are steel frames nicely hiding in between the hull’s structure, cables linking the steel supports together cross-wise and four cables to the roof securing it all in place. Of course, everything rests beautifully on a very sturdy steel beam bolted on concrete stand.

Heikki Häyhä and Prit Lätti working inside the plastic tent. Note the cross-wise cables, which are part of the steel supporting system. Photo: Eero Ehanti

Cables link the steel frames cross-wise. Photo: Eero Ehanti

Supporting cable from steel frames to the hall’s ceiling beam. Photo: Eero Ehanti

No roof at the moment, though, only the roof-beams, which is why the wreck is currently wrapped in plastic. Because of the plastic and the state of ongoing construction works, working on the outside is impossible right now. Hence we climbed on board through a small opening cut in covering to be able to do our things. This time it meant working on the remains of a deck-structure, which had been taken down for the transport.

Heikki and Priit placing a beam in its place. Photo: Eero Ehanti

The placement of beams and planks was known from excavation-time photos and drawings, so we could reassembly the structure. For this, we used similar method as the original shipbuilders, namely wooden pegs. So, after figuring out the exact position of the beam and planks, holes were drilled and pegs installed to secure them in place. Because of damaged state of the frames the beam rests on, some additional wooden supports were installed.

Priit drilling a hole for a wooden peg. Photo: Eero Ehanti

Heikki hammering a peg in place. Photo: Eero Ehanti

Other than that, there was plenty of cleaning to do, all over the place, and will no doubt be until the opening, now set in late November. Indeed, there’s still plenty to do, cleaning, securing loose joints with wooden pegs or iron nails where needed, reattaching some corking-moss hanging loosely in places and so on. But all in all, things look good. She looks dry and no dramatic cracks nor other new damages have appeared, even though we were a bit worried that the change caused by the move to this location, where she’s been basically outside only covered by plastic, would pose some unwanted reactions. But no, she holds together just nicely, holding on to her beautiful shapes and surfaces. Sure, she’s old and crumbling, especially on the areas exposed to direct sunlight upon excavation back in 2015, but considering everything, she’s looking great!

As of now, it seems that the conservation procedure we chose for this particular case, was a good, and a sustainable one at that, we must add. Very fast and cost-efficient, simply wise.