Sankt Erik, Historical icebreaker vessel in Stockholm, Sweden
Sankt Erik is a historical icebreaker moored in Stockholm that functions as a working life museum today. The vessel features two triple-expansion steam engines and its cabin spaces display the daily work routines of the crew.
The ship was built in 1915 at Finnboda Shipyard and maintained Stockholm's shipping channels under the name Isbrytaren II until 1958. After being retired in 1977, it was preserved and now stands as a testament to the region's ice-breaking industry.
The name references Saint Erik, Sweden's patron saint, reflecting the pride connected to maintaining shipping routes. The vessel now serves as a working life museum, showing how critical ice-breaking operations were to Stockholm's survival.
The vessel is moored near the Vasa Museum where visitors can board and explore the deck and engine areas. The location is easily accessible and provides direct access to the history of ice-breaking operations.
The ship has heeling tanks that fill with seawater to make it rock side to side, creating wider channels through the ice. This technique allowed the crew to break through difficult frozen passages more efficiently.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
