The Gokstad Ship’s Final Voyage
- Marla Peterson
- Oct 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 31
“The sea had been their road, their danger, and their home.” — Johan Bojer, The Last of the Vikings (1922)
On October 29, the world’s largest preserved Viking vessel completed its final journey to the Museum of the Viking Age in Oslo.
The move marked the second phase of Norway’s remarkable relocation project, following the successful transfer of the Oseberg Ship in September.
Built around 890 CE and discovered in a burial mound near Sandefjord, the Gokstad Ship was a flexible, fast vessel built for open-sea voyages. It could be both sailed and rowed, with sixteen oar holes on each side accommodating thirty-two rowers.
Its design reflects both strength and agility. Made entirely of oak, it measures 23.8 meters (about 78 feet) long and 5.18 meters (17 feet) wide, built in the clinker style (a method where wooden planks slightly overlap like shingles, creating a strong yet flexible hull) with sixteen overlapping strakes (the long, horizontal planks forming the ship’s sides). The nine strakes below the waterline are only two to three centimeters (about one inch) thick, making the sides light and resilient, while the keel (the central beam running along the bottom of the hull, providing structure and stability) is carved from a single, straight piece of oak. Pine planks form the deck, designed to lift easily so the crew could bail out water during rough seas.
Read more about when the Gokstad Ship was found, the burial mound, and the ship itself.
Archaeologists believe the Gokstad Ship belonged to a powerful chieftain or minor king from Vestfold. When the burial mound was excavated in 1880, they discovered the remains of a man in his fifties, about 185 centimeters (6 feet 1 inch) tall. He was likely dressed in finely crafted garments when laid to rest, though his weapons and jewelry were missing, a sign that grave robbers had already been active here during the Viking Age.
Even so, much was left behind. The burial contained a remarkable array of objects, including a gaming board with horn pieces; fishing hooks; harness fittings made of iron, lead, and gilded bronze; 64 shields; kitchen utensils; six beds; a tent; a sled; and three smaller boats. Also buried with him were twelve horses, eight dogs, two hawks, and two peacocks, an exotic touch that suggests the Gokstad Man was part of a far-reaching international network.
You can visit the burial site, which is also marked as a stop along the St. Olav Ways pilgrimage route through Norway.
To learn more about St. Olav Ways, check out:
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“The difficult is what takes a little time; the impossible is what takes a little longer.” - Fridtjof Nansen, polar explorer, scientist, and humanitarian (1861–1930)
When excavated, the Gokstad was in a different condition than the Oseberg ship discovered more than twenty years later, and it received rougher treatment during excavation. While on display in the University Gardens at the University of Oslo, it was divided into two sections and later transported by tractor to the museum at Bygdøy in 1929.
The relocation covered a distance of 94 meters (308 feet) and took about 12 hours, moving at an average speed of 18.7 centimeters (7 inches) per minute. It was the first time the ship had ever been moved fully assembled. Weighing more than a ton heavier than the Oseberg Ship and supported by only half as many mounts, the operation was extremely delicate. The bow, especially vulnerable, was wrapped for protection.
Why the Viking Ships Are Being Relocated
In 2012, a government-appointed committee determined that the Viking ships could no longer remain in the old Viking Ship Museum. Vibrations in the building’s floors and fluctuating humidity had caused cracks in the ancient planks, while uneven supports placed dangerous stress on the hulls. Without intervention, the ships would eventually have collapsed under their own weight.
The relocation has been meticulously planned over several years to ensure the ships’ safety. All equipment was tested, stress limits were established, and emergency conservation measures were prepared in case of unexpected movement.
In the new space, the ships will rest on vibration-resistant, earthquake-secured foundations and receive new supports designed to slow deformation and deterioration. The museum’s advanced climate-control system will maintain stable temperature and humidity, helping preserve the ships for generations to come.
Looking Ahead: Museum of the Viking Age
With the Gokstad Ship now safely relocated, attention turns to the next chapter. The Viking Ship Museum is being transformed into the Museum of the Viking Age.
The original museum closed in September 2021 and is set to reopen in 2027 or 2028. The new space will house the Gokstad, Oseberg, and Tune ships, along with more than 5,000 Viking artifacts, a significant increase from the fewer than 500 items displayed in the old museum.
Designed by AART Architects in collaboration with Statsbygg, Norway’s government property agency, the new museum will combine advanced conservation with immersive storytelling and research environments that reimagine how visitors experience the Viking world. Until the museum reopens, the story continues online. The Museum of the Viking Age’s digital channels share behind-the-scenes updates as curators and conservators document each stage of relocation and restoration. For another perspective, the video below by Norway with Pål offers a 'sneak peek' inside the project.
Video and images courtesy of the Museum of the Viking Age, University of Oslo.
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Further Reading + Viewing
The World's most famous Viking Ship – Oseberg [Video, 3:55]
BBC Global: The Astounding Viking Ship Buried on a Norwegian Farm [Oseberg, Video, 8:42]
Smithsonian Magazine: The Best-Preserved Viking Ship in the World Just Survived Its Treacherous Final Journey (Oseberg)
Smithsonian: What Made the Viking Longship So Terrifyingly Effective (Video, 4:03)
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