SHIPWHER
Shipwreck Heritage: Digitizing and Opening Access to Maritime History Sources
- Thematic cluster:
- Cultural heritage
- Programme:
- Central Baltic Programme
- Priority:
- 3. Attractive and dynamic societies
- Direction of support:
- Increasing cultural exchange
- Duration:
- May 2010 - Apr 2013 (3 years, 0 months)
- Total funding:
- 1 208 780 €
- ERDF funding:
- 980 885 €
- EUSBSR Priority area
- Developing and promoting the common culture and cultural identity
- Website:
- http://www.muinas.ee/shipwher-1
Development idea
Maritime heritage is in many ways a heritage without borders, it is our common heritage. Very often a single wreck brings together several countries due to its different origins: building site, crew, cargo, owners and location. Nowadays, access to the sea is open, diving equipment is affordable, and hobby diving is becoming more and more widespread, all of which requires us to rethink our approach to maritime heritage protection. However, documents regarding the history of any ship are often scattered among the archives of several countries, making it difficult to identify and preserve wrecks.
Aim of the project
The main objective of SHIPWHER was to enhance the knowledge about the underwater cultural heritage in Estonia and Sweden, to improve the access to this data, especially regarding ship wrecks, and to provide the general public with opportunities to learn more about the cultural heritage in the waters of the Central Baltic region.
Main project activities
The project created an internet-based database connected with the existing databases of the project partners, making it possible for divers and non-divers alike to obtain an overall picture of shipwrecks. By studying and digitalising materials from various countries and carrying out field work, more information has been collected. The project also organised seminars, published a books about the maritime heritage and conducted guided boat tours for the general public.
Partners
ESTONIAN NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 388 372 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 70 653 €
SWEDISH NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUMS
- Country:
- Sweden
- Region:
- Stockholm
- ERDF funding:
- 280 300 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 101 055 €
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF ESTONIA
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lõuna – Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 116 443 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 21 637 €
ESTONIAN MARITIME MUSEUM
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 195 770 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 34 549 €
Results
Register of shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea
A register of shipwrecks mainly in the Estonian waters was created on the basis of archival research and field work.
SHIPWHER carried out extensive underwater archaeological fieldwork and archival research in order to increase the knowledge about the underwater cultural heritage. The data is gathered in an electronic register - the Estonian Wreck Register. It contains information about more than 1200 shipswrecks (as of February 2014) starting from the 16th century.
| register.muinas.ee |
Documentary of the SHIPWHER project
The project compiled a documentary "Memory of the Sea" of the project SHIPWHER showing examples of the project activities.
The documentary presents highlights of the field work and gives an insight into the archives used when compiling the register of shipwrecks. It also displays examples of outreach activities carried out in the project.
| www.youtube.com/watch |
