Alleima keeps the Vasa ship afloat in a unique collaboration

A unique solution for a unique ship

The Vasa is a globally unique cultural treasure—but despite its impressive size, it is highly fragile. Chemical degradation of the oak wood, dating back to the 1620s, has significantly weakened the hull. Although the movement is gradual, over time it could lead to catastrophic consequences, with the ship ultimately at risk of capsizing.

As part of the collaboration with the Vasa Museum, Alleima is providing its world-leading expertise and high-performance SAF™ 2507 super duplex stainless steel for a customized internal steel support. This support will extend from the keel to the upper deck, helping redistribute the load from the decks and beams, ultimately slowing the hull's movements.

Thanks to the high strength of Alleima’s material, less material is required, allowing the weight of the internal steel support to be reduced. This minimizes the number of holes that need to be made into the ship’s hull. With Alleima’s advanced materials, the Vasa Museum can preserve the ship with less impact on its hull than would otherwise have been necessary.

The internal support is a critical part of “Support Vasa,” the Vasa Museum’s extensive project aimed at preserving the ship for the future. The aim is to complete the work on the new support structure by 2028, just in time for the Vasa’s 400th anniversary.

A longstanding collaboration with the Vasa Museum

Alleima and the Vasa Museum share a long history of collaboration. In 2011, we initiated a comprehensive research and development project to replace over 5,000 corroded bolts on the Vasa. The project resulted in a new bolt design manufactured using our strongest and most corrosion-resistant alloys, SAF™ 2507 and SAF™ 2707 HD.

Replacing the bolts reduced the ship’s weight by approximately eight tons—the equivalent of an adult elephant—and helped prevent further damage to the wood. The experience from this project laid the foundation for our new collaboration, where we are now contributing with a customized internal steel support to stabilize the ship for the future.

Alleima: A partner for the most demanding projects

Alleima has been chosen as the main partner for the Vasa Museum thanks to our world-leading expertise in advanced materials technology. Our SAF™ 2507 super duplex stainless steel is renowned for its high strength and superior corrosion resistance. It is typically used in the most demanding environments, such as the chemical industry, the food industry, oil and gas industry, as well as in marine and saltwater environments. Now, it plays a central role in the Vasa Museum’s unique project, ensuring the preservation of the Vasa for future generations.

As with the Vasa Museum collaboration, we help our customers solve complex challenges with our advanced, high-performance materials and products. You will find us where quality and strength are critical – in nuclear power plants ensuring energy production, to pacemakers and hearing aids improving lives, and hydrogen refueling stations and solar panels powering the green transition. From engines and airplanes to refrigerators and air conditioning, our innovations optimize performance and sustainability to meet specific customer needs.