When ships are launched in other harbours around the country, it's done by crane, but when the Viking Ship Museum's ships enter the water on 6 April, it's all muscle power.
You can watch as museum staff and volunteer boat club members lift and push the ships on rails greased with beef tallow into the water. For the Sea Stallion from Glendalough, this means that along each side of the ship, around 40 people stand shoulder to shoulder with their backs to the ship. They are ready to lift and push the 25-tonne ship forward. At the same time, they support the ship so it doesn't tip over to one side.
Launching the ship
Programme for the launch on Saturday 5 April 2025:
10.00 - 15.00: The Viking ships Skjoldungen, Kraka Fyr, Estrid Byrding, Helge Ask, Nordlandsbåden Rana and the Frederikssund dinghy Marcus Noer will be launched
10:00 - 15:00: The large merchant ship Ottar is loaded with 15 tonnes of ballast stone
Around 13.00: The large longship Sea Stallion from Glendalough is launched
14.00 - 14.30: Meet the boat guilds on the square in front of Cafe Knarr
10.00 - 16.30: Cafe Knarr serves 'Viking stew' with lamb and bacon, 'Viking plank' with halibut and Nordic cheese, spring soup and other Nordic food
11:00 & 13:00: Take a guided tour of the five original ships in the Viking Ship Hall.