Cannon Fire And Crowds Salutes The Return Of A 262 Year Old Swedish Indiaman To London

- Only Ship Like It In The World – First ever visit to London -
- Original Wrecked As Part of Elaborate Insurance Scam in 1745 -
- HMS Belfast Fires First Ever Full Gun Salute -
- Open To The Public -

Saturday 19 May: The Thames rang with gunfire today as London harked back to its swashbuckling and seafaring roots with the arrival of the Swedish ship Götheborg, a full-scale replica of an 18th century East India merchantman, which sailed into the City cannons firing.

The Götheborg is the only ship like it in the world and the first ever replica East Indiaman to sail into London. The Götheborg is returning to London 262 years after her original namesake left for Sweden; a dramatic, final voyage that saw the ship wrecked just outside Gothenburg Harbour as an insurance scam on 12 September, 1745. Her cargo at the time was valued at more than the Swedish national budget.

Götheborg, owned by charity the Swedish East India Company, gave her salute from her ten cast iron cannons, as she sailed through Tower Bridge. The salute was returned by HMS Belfast, firing for the first time since her berthing in London. On the quayside celebrations took place, including jazz bands, orchestras and choirs performing.

Over 20 years in the making, the replica Götheborg set sail on 2 October 2005 on a two year voyage to China, recreating the old East India training routes and acting as an ambassador for Swedish culture, trade and enterprise. She has visited 13 countries, braved modern day pirates and London is her final stop before returning to Gothenburg.

The Götheborg will stay in London until 2 June, berthed at West India Docks, South Quay, E14 9RS. She is open to the public during this time, providing an insight into the type of ships that helped build the country’s wealth and shape its heritage over 200 years ago. A quayside exhibition about this ship’s recreation is also provided. See the adventure online at www.soic.se. [Opening times below].

Celebrating Linnaeus: Transporting Chelsea Back To Gothenburg.
The Götheborg will depart London with some extremely unusual and important botanical cargo to celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of Swedish genius Carl Linnaeus. Linnaeus (alive at the time of original Götheborg) invented Taxonomy, the system still used today to categorise plants and animals. This year’s Chelsea Flower Show will pay tribute to Linnaeus by hosting a special Swedish garden. At the end of the plants will be moved to Gothenburg’s Botanical Garden. In tribute to Linnaeus, the Götheborg will carry some of the garden back to Gothenburg – just as ships during the 18th century would have been used to transport botanical specimens from country to country.

18th Century Insurance Scam
The original Götheborg sank on 12 September, 1745, on her way back from London, foundering on rocks outside the entrance to Gothenburg port. The ship had been at sea for two years and was supposed to be returning with cargo valued at more than Sweden’s national budget when she sunk. All the crew survived, picked up by the flotilla of small boats that sailed to greet her. Most of the cargo was never salvaged, but claimed on insurance. Swedish historians speculate the ship was deliberately wrecked as an insurance fraud, and believe the Captain and ship’s owner sold the cargo in London.

Recreating The Götheborg
Marine archaeological excavations on the wreck took place from 1986 to 1992. The findings and salvaged remnants of the ship, together with historical records and drawings, were used to guide her recreation. Work began to recreate her in 2002, using traditional materials and craftsmanship employed during the 18th century. The recreation used over 50km of planks; 70,000 hand forged nails; 10,000 bolts; 2,000m2 of sail; 1,000 rigging blocks and 10 cast iron cannons.

The Swedish ship Götheborg is crewed by a team of 80, a 50/50 split between men and women. (So many marriages have taken place on the ship that it has earned the nickname ‘the love boat’). The original Götheborg would have been crewed by at least 120 sailors, with an expectancy to lose around 20 percent to ill health.

Göran Bengtsson, Chairman of the Swedish East India Company, said: “The Swedish Ship Götheborg is used as a platform for presenting Swedish business, technology and culture to the rest of the world and the project has attracted a huge level of international attention. We are delighted to be visiting London and hope to welcome as many visitors as possible to have a look at this magnificent vessel.”

Tom Wareham, Curator, Museum in Docklands, said: “The Swedish ship Götheborg is hugely valuable and offers a unique chance to see and walk on the type of ship that helped build our economy and shape our heritage. Ships like this would have transported highly valuable cargo such as silk, tea and porcelain – all highly sort after by fashionable 18th century society. They would often have to fight off enemy privateers and some were as well armed as Naval Men O’war.”

Supporters and Partners
The Gothenborg is owned by the Swedish East India Company, a charitable, not for profit foundation, based in Sweden. Volvo, SKF, Swedbank and the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden, are the Official Partners of the Swedish Ship Götheborg. Their support has made the ship’s recreation and expedition possible. Follow the adventure online at www.soic.se.

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Press Information

Kallaway Ltd.
Jo Williamson
020 7221 7883
078432 64398
jo.Williamson@kallaway.co.uk

Will Kallaway
020 7221 7883
07966 889 307
william.kallaway@kallaway.co.uk

Images
High resolution images available on request, please contact Jo Williamson.

Background information
Full press information, including detailed background info on her creation can be downloaded from: http://www.kallaway.co.uk/gotheborg-press-release.htm

Press opportunities
The Götheborg will be in London until June 2. Press opportunities are possible on board the ship during this time.


Public visiting times and Itinerary from May 20 to June 2:

The Swedish East India Company Tent Village
The quayside exhibition about the ship will be open daily from 19 May until 2 from 10am – 8pm. On 20 May and 24 May it will only be open from 10am – 3pm

Götheborg Location And Opening Times
The ship is berthed at West India Docks, South Quay, E14 9RS. Canary Wharf is the nearest tube. The ship is opening times:

May 22: 10am – 5pm
May 26 – 28: 10am – 8pm
May 29 – 31: 10am – 3pm

Admission: Adults: £8, Children (under 12’s): free
(Tickets available at the ship, admission tickets only valid on date of purchase)

Other Activities During Götheborg’s Stay in London:

May 21: 9am:
Seminar - Sustainable Transports. Museum in Docklands
May 21: 2.30pm:
Seminar – London, the Financial Centre, Museum in Docklands
May 22: 6:30pm:
Film – The Linnaeus Expedition, National Film Theatre, BFI Southbank
May 24: 7pm:
Concert – Swedish pop groups, Institute of Contemporary Arts

Departure celebrations
The Götheborg will leave London on June 2 with celebrations taking place from 1:30pm – 3:45pm. Further details to be announced.

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