Wrecked ship near Finland may date back to 15th century

Discovery News recently reported on the wreck of the Hanneke Wrome, a ship that may date back to 1468 and was discovered off of the coast of Finland. This ship, which was originally en route to Estonia, was sunk by a storm bearing east winds, which led to the death of hundreds of occupants. Now, the Finnish National Board of Antiquities wants to investigate the wreck further to confirm its identity. The wreck is especially valuable since it may contain valuables worth millions of dollars.

The ship is located near the island of Jussarö in the section between the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. It is around 130 feet long and sections are still intact, according to underwater video captured by an international team of researchers. Pieces of wood and lead have been retrieved from the site.

The leader of the team, Finnish wreck expert Rauno Koivusaari, described the architecture of the lost ship to the source.

"The wreck has more than one mast, perhaps even three. I could see a joint knee integrated with the ship ribs, he said. He added that "there were roof tiles, an unknown lead object and barrel lids. Researchers at the University of Helsinki are currently trying to find out if they belong to honey barrels."

An official excavation of the site hasn't begun yet, though the National Board of Antiquities has deemed it "very significant."  A Finnish news source cited by Ancient Origins said that the ship was carrying 1,200 barrels of honey and 200 parcels of fabric in addition to the gold coins onboard when it sank.

 For support in managing costs related to salvage and exploration, researchers should seek out marine insurers that will give them a suitable policy for preventing financial loss.

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