The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage logo

Conservation of Shipwrecks Background Image

Conservation of Shipwrecks

Conservation treatment of shipwrecks is conducted in the order of desalinization, cleansing, dimensional stabilization, drying, surface treatment, joining, and restoration. Conservation treatment is a process of replacing the moisture in the cells of the wood with chemicals to harden the body of the ship.
  • STEP 1

    Desalinization
  • STEP 2

    Removal of contaminants
  • STEP 3-1

    Movement for dimensional stabilization
  • STEP 3-2

    Concentrating chemicals for dimensional stabilization
  • STEP 3-3

    Monitoring of dimensional stabilization
  • STEP 4-1

    Drying
  • STEP 4-2

    Monitoring of drying environment
  • STEP 5

    Surface treatment
  • Desalinization image

    STEP 1

    Desalinization Desalinization is a the first procedure for preserving the shipwreck. The structures wrapped for containing moisture move to the laboratory. These are placed in the chamber for replacing salt water within the body of the ship with fresh water.
  • Removal of contaminants image

    STEP 2

    Removal of contaminants Among the processes of desalinization, contaminants in the body of the ship are removed, sample collection is performed in order to check for the degrees of decay and type of wood.
  • Movement for dimensional stabilization image

    STEP 3-1

    Movement for dimensional stabilization The body of the ship that has completed desalinization maintains its shape using the moisture within the body, so dimensional stabilization is performed through chemical treatment so the chemicals can infiltrate the wood, replacing the moisture.
  • Concentrating chemicals for dimensional stabilization image

    STEP 3-2

    Concentrating chemicals for dimensional stabilization The chemical used for dimensional stabilization is PEG, which uses 2 molecular weights (400, 4000) and the concentration increase process is performed to take it from low concentrations to high concentrations.
  • Monitoring of dimensional stabilization stabilization image

    STEP 3-3

    Monitoring of dimensional stabilization stabilization During dimensional stabilization, concentration must be maintained and the condition of the body of the ship must be regularly observed.
  • Drying image

    STEP 4-1

    Drying The body of the ship that has completed dimensional stabilization is to be covered with vinyl in order to ensure that the speed of drying is controlled and does not occur abruptly.
  • Monitoring of drying environment image

    STEP 4-2

    Monitoring of drying environment During the drying process, the state of the body of the ship is observed by controlling of the temperature and humidity.
  • Surface treatment image

    STEP 5

    Surface treatment During surface treatment, the PEG left over on the surface of the body of the ship is removed.
Ships that have undergone conservation treatment

Classification
Size (length × width treatment amount)
Treatment amount
Treatment method
Period of conservation treatment
Period and age of ship

Shinan ship

34m × 11m
729

Wando
Shipwreck

9m × 3.5m
81

Dalido Shipwreck

10.5m × 2.7m
33

Sibidongpado
Shipwreck

7m × 2.5m
11
PEG 2-step
1981~1994s
14th century
1981~1994s
11th century
1995~2009s
14th century
2004~2014s
11th century
  • Administrative Office Maritime Heritage Research Division

  • Contact 061-270-2090