For 600 years, the waters off Copenhagen have hidden an exceptional secret. Now, maritime archaeologists from the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark reveal the discovery of the world’s largest cog, a medieval cargo ship whose size and previously unknown construction details offer new insight into the maritime technology and trade networks of the Middle Ages, shedding light on the scale and organisation of medieval trade across Northern Europe.
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The ship, named Svælget 2 (Svaelget 2) after the channel where it was found, measures approximately 28 metres long, 9 metres wide and 6 metres high, with an estimated cargo capacity of 300 tons. Built around 1410, the cog represents the largest example of its type ever discovered anywhere in the world.
According to the archaeologists, a ship of this size reflects a society in transition, because such a vessel required a well-established trade structure:
“A ship with such a large cargo capacity is part of a structured system where merchants knew there was a market for the goods they carried. Svælget 2 is a tangible example of how trade developed during the Middle Ages,” stresses Otto Uldum.
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The cog was the super ship of the Middle Ages. Developed in the North Sea region, it made it possible to transport large quantities of goods efficiently and at low cost. This ship type was central to economic development in the 14th and 15th centuries, and with its enormous cargo capacity, it transformed trade patterns. Where long-distance trade had previously been limited to luxury goods, everyday commodities could now be shipped across great distances.
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Svælget 2 is not only the largest cog ever found; it is also exceptionally well preserved. The wreck was excavated at a depth of 13 metres, where it has been shielded from the forces that normally destroy ships near the coast. Sand has protected the starboard side from keel to gunwale, something never seen before in a cog find. In this area, archaeologists uncovered remarkable traces of the ship’s rigging.
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A distinctive feature of medieval cogs is the high castles at the bow and stern, timber-built platforms known from countless illustrations. Until now, however, there has been no secure archaeological evidence that these castles actually existed.
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Another major surprise was the discovery of the ship’s brick-built galley, the earliest example of its kind from Danish waters. This was where the crew could cook over an open fire. Around 200 bricks and 15 tiles formed the galley, and in the same area archaeologists found bronze cooking pots, ceramic bowls and remains of fish and meat.