East India Ship Götheborg

When you walk in the harbor in Eriksberg, you see the stately ship. If it is not in port, she is out on a journey.

History
On September 12, 1745, what should not have happened happened. The East India Ship Götheborg was on his way home to his home port of Gothenburg after a 30-month long voyage, and about 900 meters to the anchorage, Götheborg ran aground.

It was the well-known foundation Hunnebådan that provided it and yet the ship had a pilot to bring it into port. Inside Gothenburg, people waited to celebrate and throw a party to celebrate the homecoming, but this has now been put on hold. Luckily, it was bright and fine weather when it happened so the entire crew could be saved and also part of the cargo.

During the two following years, approximately 1/3 of the cargo was salvaged. Despite the fact that the ship was destroyed and disappeared into the depths, the voyage is said to have gone with approx. 15% profit.

Götheborg 1738 - 1745
The original ship Götheborg was not built in Gothenburg but in Stockholm at the Terra Nova yard. That the name became Gothenburg came from the fact that the Swedish East Indian Company had its headquarters in Gothenburg on the west coast, and it was from here that all the East India ships sailed to get to China. The ship was large and could load about 830 tons. And there could be around 140 men on board. All crewmen who left a Swedish port unfortunately did not return to their home country for various reasons. Several were those who died during the journey. During his short time, Gothenburg managed to make 3 trips to China.

Gothenburg is found after 240 years!
For over 200 years, Gothenburg lay forgotten at the bottom of the sea. It was in 1984 that some divers dived at the wreck site and found a lot of porcelain shards. This was the start of one of Sweden's largest marine archaeological excavations and interest not only for us in Gothenburg but also for the whole world.

1992 construction starts
1992 is the time, when the construction of the new East India liner Götheborg begins. At Eriksberg, out by the large jib crane at Hisingen, a brand new shipyard began to take shape. A large shipyard was built here to accommodate the construction, forge, mast workshop, sail loft and, of course, a cafe and exhibition hall for all interested visitors. The shipyard was named Terra Nova - the same name as the Stockholm shipyard.

The maiden voyage October 2, 2005
2 years after the launch, it was time for Gothenburg to set sail for China. After several years of work to complete this historic ship, everyone was eager to see the ship leave the port of Gothenburg. All over people had gathered to wave goodbye to Gothenburg. There was just as much interest, if not even more, when the East India Ship Götheborg returned to Gothenburg on June 9, 2007. They had then been away for over 1.5 years.

King Carl XVI Gustaf is present at the launch
On June 6, 2003, Gothenburg was launched in front of over 90,000 spectators. The King, Queen and Prince Carl Philip are also present at the ceremony.