Bremen cog

The Bremen cog is a completely preserved medieval merchant ship on display at the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven. Its hull shows the characteristic wide design of this ship type and offers insight into the construction and interior spaces of a trading vessel from that era.

The ship was built around 1380 and later sank in the Weser River, where dredging work uncovered it in 1962. The extensive conservation effort preserved the wooden wreck for future generations.

The ship shows how Hanseatic merchants lived and worked, with cargo space and room for a small crew onboard. Its layout reveals the demands of long-distance sea trade.

The ship is displayed in a museum setting, so visitors should plan time to explore the different decks and chambers inside. Sturdy footwear is wise, as wooden stairs feel narrow and navigating up and down requires care.

The ship combines two different construction methods: the bottom uses smooth planking while the sides are overlapped. This mixed building approach was typical for cogs and shows the practical solutions of medieval shipbuilders.

Location: Bremerhaven

GPS coordinates: 53.53995,8.57714

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:40