Paweł Litwinienko

Underwater archaeologist, since 2016 a member of the Underwater Archaeology Department diver’s team at the National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk. Connected to maritime history, sailing and diving since the earliest years of his life. As a commercial diver and underwater works supervisor he’s actively engaged in underwater archaeological research conducted by the NMM. His scientific research focuses on the history of shipping and shipbuilding, including the implementation of digital methods for documentation and reconstruction of historical ships, a main topic of his PhD thesis, which is being written at the University of Gdańsk.

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.