Our coastal area is a huge treasure trove of marine history. The northern Baltic Sea is the world's best and only maritime graveyard of wooden ships. Because the northern Baltic Sea's lightly saline waters are free of shipworms, shipwrecks are well preserved on our coastline, at best remaining in comparatively good condition for over 500 years. With their artefacts and cargoes, these centuries-old wrecks are unique chronicles of our seagoing history. They tell us about the frequently harsh lives of our medieval ancestors and their quest to communicate with other worlds.

Finland's shipwrecks are little photographed. Our sea area is full of wrecked wooden and iron ships, peasant boats, warships and merchant vessels. Most hulks, including treasure ships, have not been found.