This website provides information about the Iceland Knarr project, which is seeking support to build the first replica of the Hedeby 3 Knarr. All inquiries about the project are welcome.
The project is led by Gunnar Marel Eggertsson
Gunnar Marel Eggertsson here on the Viking ship Gaia as its captain.
The driving force behind the Iceland Knarr project is Gunnar Marel Eggertsson a master craftsman who is well known internationally for his work with Viking ships. Gunnar Marel is both a sea captain and a master shipbuilder by trade. He is an Icelandic citizen with extensive knowledge and long experience in building and sailing Viking ships.
In the year 1996, Gunnar Marel successfully finished building an authentic replica of a large Viking ship called The Icelander (Íslendingur). In the year 2000, Gunnar Marel sailed the Icelander Viking ship from Iceland to America as its captain to commemorate the 1,000 year anniversary of the voyage of Icelandic explorer Leifur Eiríksson to North America.
In the year 2008, the Icelander Viking ship was moved to a new Viking World museum (www.vikingworld.is/) where this magnificent Viking ship built by Gunnar Marel is the museum’s main attraction today. See video from the museum:
In the year 1996, Gunnar Marel successfully finished building an authentic replica of a large Viking ship called The Icelander (Íslendingur). In the year 2000, Gunnar Marel sailed the Icelander Viking ship from Iceland to America as its captain to commemorate the 1,000 year anniversary of the voyage of Icelandic explorer Leifur Eiríksson to North America.
In the year 2008, the Icelander Viking ship was moved to a new Viking World museum (www.vikingworld.is/) where this magnificent Viking ship built by Gunnar Marel is the museum’s main attraction today. See video from the museum:
In the year 2002, Gunnar Marel was awarded the Order of the Falcon by the Icelandic state for his work regarding Viking ships. The Order of the Falcon is the highest honor that the Icelandic state can bestow on individuals.
What is the project about?
Computer image of the Hedeby 3 Viking ship from Hedeby Viking Museum in Germany
The Iceland Knarr project is about building the first full-scale and seaworthy replica of the Hedeby 3 shipwreck (Knarr), discovered in the Hedeby harbor in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany in 1980.
Also, the other main purpose of the project is to sail the Knarr from Germany to Iceland not using any modern navigation tools.
Also, the other main purpose of the project is to sail the Knarr from Germany to Iceland not using any modern navigation tools.
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The wreck in Hedeby is of the largest Viking merchant ship or Knarr found so far. Because of its cargo capabilities and seaworthiness, the Hedeby 3 Knarr was the key factor in the Norse settlement of Iceland and the discovery of North America.
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It is believed by some experts that Leifur Eiriksson the Norse explorer from Iceland used a Knarr of the same type and size as the Hedeby 3 Viking ship. That this type of ship was the key to his discovery of North America, and a ship like this was seen as a status symbol for a great Viking chieftain such as Leif Eiriksson.
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The Hedeby 3 replica will be built under Gunnar Marel Eggertsson supervision using ancient methods. The reconstruction of the Hedeby 3 merchant Viking ship will be called Iceland Knarr as is the project.
What is a Knarr?
A replica of the Skuldelev 1 Knarr in Denmark. This is a much smaller merchant ship than The Hedeby 3 Knarr.
Knarr (plural Knerrir) is the Old Norse term for a type of ship built for long sea voyages and used during the Viking expansion (793 - 1066). The Knarr was a merchant ship; the hull was wider, deeper, and shorter than a longship, and could take more cargo and be operated by smaller crews.
The Knarr was used for longer voyages, ocean-going transports, and more hazardous trips than the Gokstad type. It was capable of sailing 75 miles (121 km) in one day, held a crew of about 10–20, and Knerrir routinely crossed the North Atlantic in the Viking Age, carrying livestock and goods.
The Knarr was used for longer voyages, ocean-going transports, and more hazardous trips than the Gokstad type. It was capable of sailing 75 miles (121 km) in one day, held a crew of about 10–20, and Knerrir routinely crossed the North Atlantic in the Viking Age, carrying livestock and goods.
The Hedeby 3 shipwreck (Knarr)
A small-scale replica of the Hedeby 3 Knarr in Hedeby Viking Museum
The Hedeby 3 shipwreck (Knarr) was discovered in the Hedeby harbor in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany in 1980, and is of the largest Viking merchant ship or Knarr found so far. Its closest parallel example is the Skuldelev 1 wreck in Denmark which is considerably smaller.
According to experts, the Hedeby 3 Knarr had a total length of 22.08 m, a width of 6.2 m, and a height of 2.52 m. The cargo capacity would have been about 60 tons.
A ship of this type was used to transport people, goods, and livestock across ocean voyages. No full-scale replica exists today of the Hedeby 3 shipwreck which is preserved in the Hedeby Viking Museum in Germany.
According to experts, the Hedeby 3 Knarr had a total length of 22.08 m, a width of 6.2 m, and a height of 2.52 m. The cargo capacity would have been about 60 tons.
A ship of this type was used to transport people, goods, and livestock across ocean voyages. No full-scale replica exists today of the Hedeby 3 shipwreck which is preserved in the Hedeby Viking Museum in Germany.
Why a full-scale replica of the Hedeby 3 Knarr?
A small-scale replica of the Iceland Knarr by Gunnar Marel
The settlement of Iceland (Icelandic: landnámsöld) is generally believed to have begun in the second half of the ninth century when Norse settlers migrated across the North Atlantic. The Icelandic Age of Settlement is considered to have lasted from 874 to 930, at which point most of the island had been claimed.
It has been estimated that 15 - 20.000 Norse settlers migrated to Iceland in the first 60 years of the settlement and that all of them sailed to Iceland aboard a Knarr the same type as the Hedeby 3 Knarr.
Because of its cargo capabilities and seaworthiness, the Hedeby 3 Knarr was the key factor in the Norse settlement of Iceland. It is believed by some experts that Leifur Eiriksson the Norse explorer from Iceland used a Knarr of the same type and size as the Hedeby 3 Viking ship, and that this type of ship was the key to his discovery of North America in the year 1000.
The Hedeby 3 Knarr has yet to be replicated in our times. It is therefore a unique and worthy task to rebuild this Viking cargo ship as close to the original.
It has been estimated that 15 - 20.000 Norse settlers migrated to Iceland in the first 60 years of the settlement and that all of them sailed to Iceland aboard a Knarr the same type as the Hedeby 3 Knarr.
Because of its cargo capabilities and seaworthiness, the Hedeby 3 Knarr was the key factor in the Norse settlement of Iceland. It is believed by some experts that Leifur Eiriksson the Norse explorer from Iceland used a Knarr of the same type and size as the Hedeby 3 Viking ship, and that this type of ship was the key to his discovery of North America in the year 1000.
The Hedeby 3 Knarr has yet to be replicated in our times. It is therefore a unique and worthy task to rebuild this Viking cargo ship as close to the original.
Want to invest and/or support the project?
The project will be in the safe hands of Gunnar Marel Eggertsson. He has all the qualifications and experience needed to complete the project successfully just as he did with his other Viking ship project, the Icelander.
The project is seeking funding from investors and/or support from others interested in building the first authentic full-scale replica of the Hedeby 3 Knarr the largest merchant ship of the Viking Age.
The project can be expected to be of great interest to people who have an interest in the Viking Age. The estimated building time is 1 - 2 years from the day the actual building starts. The ship is expected to be built in Hedeby, Germany.
The project is seeking funding from investors and/or support from others interested in building the first authentic full-scale replica of the Hedeby 3 Knarr the largest merchant ship of the Viking Age.
The project can be expected to be of great interest to people who have an interest in the Viking Age. The estimated building time is 1 - 2 years from the day the actual building starts. The ship is expected to be built in Hedeby, Germany.
The project.
A unique and worthy task!
The Hedeby 3 Knarr has yet to be replicated in our times. It is therefore a unique and worthy task to rebuild this Viking cargo ship as close to the original.