Copenhagen, Jan. 20 (SANA) – Marine archaeologists in Denmark have announced the discovery of a shipwreck over 600 years old in the Øresund Strait, the narrow waterway separating Denmark and Sweden and a key maritime route in Europe for centuries.

The wreck has been identified as a cog—the largest medieval trading vessel of its kind known to date—a type of ship that played a vital role in northern European commerce during the Middle Ages.

According to IFLScience, the find was made by a team from the Viking Ship Museum near Copenhagen during seabed surveys and excavation work in the strait, which links the Baltic Sea to the Atlantic via the North Sea. As sand and silt were removed, researchers uncovered the remains of what is now recognized as the largest documented cog ship.

Named Svæglet 2, the vessel measures about 28 meters long, 9 meters wide, and 6 meters tall, with a cargo capacity of roughly 300 tonnes. Tree-ring analysis of its timber indicates it was built around 1410.

The ship’s construction materials came from across northern Europe: the oak planks were sourced from Pomerania (modern-day Poland), while the internal ribs were made from wood from the Netherlands, reflecting the extensive trade networks of the era.

“This discovery is a milestone in European maritime history,” said Otto Uldum, the lead marine archaeologist on the project. He explained that cog ships were a major innovation in 15th-century shipbuilding, enabling the transport of large volumes of goods and fueling the growth of trade in northern Europe.

Thick layers of sand helped preserve large portions of the vessel, allowing archaeologists to study its distinctive high structures, known as “castles,” and to recover personal items and everyday tools used by the crew.

The find promises to shed new light on medieval seafaring, shipbuilding techniques, and daily life aboard commercial vessels of the period.