From the micro- to the macro-:: Managing the conservation of the warship, Vasa

Sweden's famous warship, Vasa, sank on her maiden voyage in August 1628, and remained on the bottom of Stockholm harbour for 333 years. Raised in 1961, she became the first large-scale wooden object to be treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). in the summer of 2000 a number of acidic salt precipitations were noticed on the surface of the ship and on wooden artefacts in the storerooms. An international research project has been established to look into the causes of this problem and suggest possible re-treatments. Meanwhile projects are underway to monitor movements in the ship, to build a better support system, and to replace the thousands of iron bolts holding the structure together, while a sophisticated new climate system has recently been installed in the museum.