The Brig Tre Kronor - An ambassador for the Baltic Sea Region
Briggen Tre Kronor is an ambassador for the Baltic Sea Region. We act as an independent platform for debate and networking for leading decision makers from private and public sectors. Our focus areas are the environment, youth and the economical growth of the Baltic Sea Region.
Facts about the Brig Tre Kronor af Stockholm
Foto: Per Björkdahl
What is a Brig?
A Brig is a two-masted ship with both masts carrying square sails all the way. The Brig was one of the most important sailing vessels of the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a good sailor, easily manoeuvred in a number of special ways thanks to its two square-rigged masts.
What is the origin of this Brig?
This ship is modelled after Gladan, a Brig built in 1857 as a cargo navy ship. Gladan also made two journeys as a supply ship for A F Nordenskiöld and his expeditions to Spitsbergen and Greenland. Later she served as a sail training ship for the Navy. Her time ended in 1924, when she sunk in the harbour of the Navy town Karlskrona.
How it all started
Four gentlemen with a passion for beauty, navigation and sailing vessels launched the Stockholm Brig project in 1993. The first drawings were presented in 1994, and in 1997 the Brig’s keel was laid on Skeppsholmen, Stockholm. The construction had begun!
Photo: Olav Skogsrud
Who supports the project?
The Society Föreningen Briggen Tre Kronor, with around 4 000 members, supports the project, which is basically financed by private donations, companies and foundations. The Society founded the limited company Briggen Tre Kronor AB, and is still the largest shareholder.
What kind of timber has been used?
The frames, planking and garnishing (the inside of the ships hull) are of oak. The deck is built of Siberian larch. Masts and spars are made of pine and larch.
Construction methods
In all essential, the construction is carried out in the same manner as when Gladan was built. We have, however, used modern tools such as chainsaws, electric planes, drills and computers. Competent craftsmanship is totally decisive for the final result.
Material and dimensions
Hull material consists of 544 m3 through-sawed full-grown oak representing some 1,000 trees. The logs are cut and sawed in order to preserve the natural curves of the trees, to obtain maximal strength and optimal utilisation of the timber. Hardware used in connecting wooden parts includes 17,000 galvanised 6"-8" nails, 5,000 check bolts, as well as other nuts, bolts and washers.
Linseed oil, turpentine and various pigments are used in all painting and impregnating.
Frame: 6" full-grown oak with centre spacing of 0.53 m. 53 bolted double frames, of which 40 are whole-timbers, 13 are half-frames and 3 are single cant frames. In addition, there are stern frame timbers and hawse timbers.
Planking: Oak, 2.5" thick boards (6,2 cm). Garboards and wales are 3" thick (8.8 cm). A total of 1,837 running metres, 252 boards. Board length: 4-14 metres.
Deck: Siberian larch. 2.5" (7,0 cm) X 5" (12,5 cm). A total of 1,800 running metres in lengths of 4-6 metres.
Photo: Olav Skogsrud
Hull construction
Basic information for the construction and proportions of Tre Kronor af Stockholm has been taken from data from the original Gladan, from construction regulations for wooden ships of the Swedish National Maritime Administration (1945) as well as traditional shipbuilding practice. Advancements in the area of wooden shipbuilding had reached a climax at the time of the construction of Gladan.
Drawings
The Gladan blueprints from 1857 were inserted into a modern CAD-based drafting software called Max Surf. Smaller adjustments have been made in order to install the propeller, but other than that the hull corresponds to the original blueprints.
The Launching
The traditional Launching was on August 27th, 2005. Her first official "premier sailing" was on the 25th of July 2007. In the season of 2008 she made her maiden journey.
What will we use her for?
Tre Kronor af Stockholm will be used for various purposes: Membership sailing, Shipowner sailing, conference sailing, networking sailing, education and expeditions etc. But above all, she will sail in the Baltic Sea as an ambassador for mutual understanding and support cultural and commercial relations between the countries around the Baltic.
The future
It is our ambition that the Brig Tre Kronor af Stockholm will be a platform for cultural and economical networking in the Baltic Sea region. She represents the best of Swedish ship building tradition and can offer unique sailing experiences that encourage and give opportunity for reflection, personal development and joy of living. We want Tre Kronor af Stockholm to represent tradition, quality, fellowship, sailorship and adventure.
