Roman ship reconstructions moved to museum on air cushions in Mainz

Mit 32 Ruderern und einem Mast war es superschnig, said Baron of the patrol boat. The reconstructions, weighing around seven to eight tons each, are based on the remains of several late Roman ships found in the Rhine in 1981/82. At that time, well-preserved remains of Roman ships had come to light during construction work on the Mainz riverbank.

Background: Finds from the Mainz Rhine Harbor

A specialist firm used transport air cushions for the move. As Alexander Wiesel from the haulage company explained, the sensitive wooden structures were lifted using rubber cushions and carefully maneuvered to their new location. The company has experience with such operations: it was precisely this firm that had brought the ships into the then-new museum back in 1994.

The museum, first opened in 1994, is part of the neighboring Leibniz Centre for Archaeology (Leiza). It has been closed since construction work began. The reason was not only the redesign of the exhibition: the museum building had also needed upgrading, and defects in areas such as fire protection and the electrical system had to be remedied, Baron explained. The new exhibition in the approximately 3,300-square-meter gallery space will also be barrier-free.

Move Using Air Cushions

The exhibition will also feature 6 original wrecks and 48 models of ancient ships. The reconstructions are just one of several highlights. According to Baron, the opening of the new exhibition was originally planned for 2022, but was significantly delayed by the necessary renovation work on the building.

Einen genauen Termin gibt es noch nicht, said Baron with regard to the planned opening at the end of 2026. She announced: Es wird jetzt noch ein arbeitsreicher Sommer und Herbst. Preparations for the new permanent exhibition are therefore in full swing.

Costs and Timeline

The total cost of the redesign was put at around 1.5 million euros by Leiza's administrative director, Torsten Fischer. This means the investment is significantly higher than what is typical for a purely exhibition-related revision – due to the additional renovation needs of the building.

The Museum of Ancient Shipping is considered one of the few specialized institutions of its kind in Europe. The original finds from the Mainz Rhine harbor are among the most significant late Roman ship discoveries ever made. With the redesign, Leiza and the museum aim to present the collection in a contemporary format and appeal to new visitor groups as well.

As soon as the exact opening date is set, the museum intends to communicate it, according to Baron. What is clear is that after four years of closure, a new chapter in conveying the history of ancient shipping will begin in Mainz's harbor area – with the two ton-heavy reconstructions serving as crowd-pullers.