Saga Oseberg on the Byfjorden fiord, in the harbour of the small city of Tønsberg, Norway (in Norwegian: Tønsberg havn/Tønsberg Brygge/Gjestebrygga/Brygga). The ship is a 2012 built replica (kopi i full skala) of the Oseberg Ship (Osebergskipet), a Viking ship from ca. AD 830 discovered in a burial mound near Tønsberg.

In detail

Photo taken on August 16th, 2019 showing the viking ship moored to the pier on a summer day. The prow (forstavnen) of the bow is decorated with woodcarvings in Oseberg Style ending in a spiral shape and a figurehead of a stylized serpent (et spiralsnodd ormehode). In the background are seen the Kaldnes bro, a bascule footbridge (vippebru/gangbru) across the water from the city center, and the Kaldnes Brygge apartements area.

About the Oseberg and Saga Oseberg ships

Ship sizes in the Viking Age varied according to use. Trading vessels were broader and higher for cargo, warships longer and lower for speed. The Oseberg ship is a karve, a small type of longship used for war, ordinary transport and coasting. The hull is broad and shallow, and the bow and stern are decorated with woodcarvings. The ship is equipped with a broad steering oar or board (rudder, styreåre, ror) as well as oars and sail.

Using timber from Denmark and Norway and utilizing traditional building methods from the Viking age, this Oseberg ship was launched on the 20th of June 2012 from the city of Tønsberg. In 2014 it was taken to open seas, with Færder as its destination, under full sail. A speed of 10 knots was achieved. The construction was a success, the ship performing very well. It demonstrated that the Oseberg ship really could have sailed and was not just a burial chamber on land.