PhD Krzysztof Kurzyk

Underwater archaeologist, commercial diver, underwater works supervisor, diving since 2002. Took part in numerous underwater archaeological expeditions in inland and maritime waters of Poland, Lithuania and Croatia. Employed in the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk since 2016, since 2022 as the head of the Underwater Archaeology Department. Specialist in maritime archaeology, archaeology of the Neolithic and Early Brone Age, shipwrecks and medieval harbours.

Title of the presentation: Today Underwater Wreck Storage – Tomorrow Underwater Archaeological Park in the Gulf of Gdańsk

In our presentation we’ll focus on the latest results of underwater works at the Underwater Wreck Storage (UWS) in the Gulf of Gdańsk. The UWS is a seabed area of approx. 700 m radius, located few miles east of the Gdynia-Orłowo, designated by the Maritime Office in Gdynia for protection of shipwrecks and other archaeological artefacts, which are being displaced from the location of their discovery due to maritime investments.

In 2023 a permanent navigational buoy was placed at the centre of the UWS, allowing for mooring at the location. Currently, two wooden displaced shipwrecks (Swedish galleon „Solen” and F53.2 shipwreck), eight  Swedish 18th century cast-iron cannons and several constructional elements from other shipwrecks are resting in the area,

During underwater works conducted from July 2024 we managed to clean, re-locate and „arrange” the „Solen” shipwreck to look as close as possible during the archaeological research in the 1970s. We had to raise and move large pieces of shipwreck underwater using liftbags. We also placed several 18th century cast-iron cannons, each weighing approx. 1,5 tons closer to „Solen”.

The final effect of our work, continued in incoming years will be the creation of an attractive underwater archaeological park open for scuba divers, facilitating the promotion and better protection of the Baltic underwater cultural heritage.