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 Sigyn in theAura River inTurku (2021) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Finland | |
| Name | Sigyn |
| Launched | 1887 |
| Maiden voyage | Gothenburg-Southampton 1887 |
| In service | 1887–1938 |
| Identification | IMO number: 8640325 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | LOA 57.5 m,LWL 42.7 |
| Beam | 9 m |
| Draught | 4.0 m (fully loaded) |
| Propulsion | sails only |
| Sail plan | barque, sail area 1000 m2 |
| Speed | best day average 11.5knots |
| Crew | 10–11 |
Sigyn, built inGothenburg 1887, now museum ship inTurku, is the last remaining woodenbarque used for trade across the oceans. At the time she was built there were thousands of similar vessels, but she was one of the last to be built. She was quite small even for her time, considering she was built for long-distance trade, but well built and considered fast and beautiful.
In these times thesteam ships were taking over the most important routes; theSuez Canal was already built and thePanama Canal was planned. The tonnage of steam ships passed that of sailing ships in 1890, ten and thirty years later in Sweden and Finland respectively. On the other hand, this was the time when big barques of steel were built.Sigyn was planned for another niche: the small size and small draught made her suited to also use small remote harbours.
The first decadeSigyn sailed on the Atlantic ontramp trade, mostly with wood (pine, spruce, pitch pine, mahogany, cedar), but also e.g. coal, probably sugar, once even hay. In 1897 she made one journey toBangkok. After 1900 she sailed mostly in European waters.
After being severely damaged while seeking shelter outsideKristiansand 1913,Sigyn was rerigged as abarquentine. She was already old for being asoftwood ship and the freight prices on ocean trade were declining, so a cheaperrig suited for coastal trade on theBaltic andNorth Sea seemed appropriate. This changed with theWorld War: transatlantic trade became very profitable and she crossed the Atlantic 12 times in 1915 and 1916.
AfterSigyn ran aground in 1917 the copper hooding protecting againstshipworm was removed and sold.Sigyn was thus no longer fit for the oceans. She was bought by Salsåkers ångsåg, a Swedish sawmill by theGulf of Bothnia.
In 1927Sigyn was sold toFinland, like many other sailing ships in these times, when steel and steam were taking over in richer countries. The buyerArthur Lundqvist fromVårdö in theÅland islands was one of the last big peasant shipowners. The shipping companies of the family remain asLundqvistrederierna.
As representative for "nautical circles"Otto Andersson, rector ofÅbo Akademi, proposed 1936 the foundation of a maritime museum in Turku. A museum ship was needed andSigyn was soon considered the best alternative. At that time there were only a few museum ships worldwide andSigyn was to be the first in Finland.
Sigyn was bought 1939 and opened for the public 3 June 1939. Before the end of the year theWinter War begun, followed by theContinuation War.Sigyn was damaged, and there was a severe lack of funds and people for her maintenance.
After the wars there were negotiations aboutSigyn sailing as merchant ship again and thus earning the needed money herself. There was a shortage of tonnage after the war, so this would be profitable, but risky. The proposition was eventually turned down andSigyn was repaired by donated money. 1948 she was again opened for visitors. In 1950 she even sailed onAiristo outside Turku as part of a film,Laivan kannella (Sigyn had had such a role once before, 1916 forTerje Vigen).
Sigyn's hull was partly renewed 1971–1972 at theSuomenlinna shipyard. Funds were not sufficient though and not until 1979 wasSigyn reopened for the public, now again as a barque. By 1994Sigyn's hull was weakened by constantflexing, and a floating dock called "Loke" was constructed to help reduce the problem.Sigyn's hull was again renewed 1998-2001, now to a big part. This work was carried out atSjökvarteret inMariehamn, whereAlbanus andLinden had been built and thus much knowledge about wooden ships acquired. Some work has also been done inTurku, whereSigyn now is moored byForum Marinum in theAura River.
60°26′10″N22°14′14″E / 60.43611°N 22.23722°E /60.43611; 22.23722