Anders Franzén
Encyclopedia
Anders Franzén was a Swedish marine technician and an amateur
naval archaeologist
. He is most famous for having located the 1628 wreck
of the Swedish
galleon
Vasa
in 1956 and participated in her salvage 1959-1961. He also participated in the salvage and exploration of the wrecks after Kronan
, Riksäpplet, Resande Man, and Lybska Svan.
Franzén studied naval architecture
at the Royal Institute of Technology
(KTH), but instead developed a strong interest for history and never graduated. He took employment with BP
and later changed to the Swedish Naval Administration (which was a single-service forerunner to the Defence Materiel Administration, FMV) where he became an expert on oil and fuels.
At the same time, Franzén was conducting amateur historical research in archives, where he was searching for information on old shipwrecks of the Swedish Navy. Early on, he had realised that in the brackish water
conditions in Baltic Sea
, wrecks of old wooden ships could survive without being attacked by shipworm
. Around 1950 he had compiled a list of a dozen or so ships worth investigating further. From 1954, he focussed his efforts on Vasa which he located in 1956 in Stockholm harbour.
Franzén had strained relations to the Maritime Museum
, which for a long time seemed to regard Franzén as an unwelcome competitor, while the Swedish navy
and the city of Stockholm were a lot more interested. Therefore, Franzén never worked for the Maritime Museum, but was given a position at his alma mater KTH, which also recognised him with an honorary doctorate in 1983, KTH's Great Prize in 1988, and a personal title as professor (approved by the Swedish government) in 1992.
He was a founding member of the Sea Research Society
and served on its Board of Advisors. In 1972 Franzén was awarded the Society's research/professional degree of Doctor of Marine Histories (MHD
).
He is buried in Galärvarvskyrkogården in Stockholm
.
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
naval archaeologist
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. He is most famous for having located the 1628 wreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
of the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
Vasa
Regalskeppet Vasa
Vasa is a Swedish warship that was built from 1626 to 1628. The ship foundered and sank after sailing less than a nautical mile into its maiden voyage on 10 August 1628. It fell into obscurity after most of its valuable bronze cannons were salvaged in the 17th century...
in 1956 and participated in her salvage 1959-1961. He also participated in the salvage and exploration of the wrecks after Kronan
Kronan (ship)
Kronan, also called Stora Kronan, was a Swedish warship that was the flagship of the Swedish navy in the Baltic Sea in the 1670s. When built, she was one of the largest seagoing vessels in the world. The construction of Kronan lasted 1668–72, delayed on account of difficulties with financing and...
, Riksäpplet, Resande Man, and Lybska Svan.
Franzén studied naval architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
at the Royal Institute of Technology
Royal Institute of Technology
The Royal Institute of Technology is a university in Stockholm, Sweden. KTH was founded in 1827 as Sweden's first polytechnic and is one of Scandinavia's largest institutions of higher education in technology. KTH accounts for one-third of Sweden’s technical research and engineering education...
(KTH), but instead developed a strong interest for history and never graduated. He took employment with BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
and later changed to the Swedish Naval Administration (which was a single-service forerunner to the Defence Materiel Administration, FMV) where he became an expert on oil and fuels.
At the same time, Franzén was conducting amateur historical research in archives, where he was searching for information on old shipwrecks of the Swedish Navy. Early on, he had realised that in the brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
conditions in Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, wrecks of old wooden ships could survive without being attacked by shipworm
Shipworm
Shipworms are not worms at all, but rather a group of unusual saltwater clams with very small shells, notorious for boring into wooden structures that are immersed in sea water, such as piers, docks and wooden ships...
. Around 1950 he had compiled a list of a dozen or so ships worth investigating further. From 1954, he focussed his efforts on Vasa which he located in 1956 in Stockholm harbour.
Franzén had strained relations to the Maritime Museum
Maritime Museum (Stockholm)
The Maritime Museum is a museum in Stockholm, Sweden. Located in the Gärdet section of the inner-city district Östermalm, the museum offers a panoramic view of the bay Djurgårdsbrunnsviken...
, which for a long time seemed to regard Franzén as an unwelcome competitor, while the Swedish navy
Swedish Navy
The Royal Swedish Navy is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet – as well as marine units, the so-called Amphibious Corps .In Swedish, vessels of the Swedish Navy are given the prefix "HMS," short for Hans/Hennes...
and the city of Stockholm were a lot more interested. Therefore, Franzén never worked for the Maritime Museum, but was given a position at his alma mater KTH, which also recognised him with an honorary doctorate in 1983, KTH's Great Prize in 1988, and a personal title as professor (approved by the Swedish government) in 1992.
He was a founding member of the Sea Research Society
Sea Research Society
The Sea Research Society is a non-profit educational research organization founded in 1972. Its general purpose is to promote scientific and educational endeavors in any of the marine sciences or marine histories with the goal of obtaining knowledge for the ultimate benefit to mankind...
and served on its Board of Advisors. In 1972 Franzén was awarded the Society's research/professional degree of Doctor of Marine Histories (MHD
MHD
MHD may refer to:*MHD, former name of the HDTV network for MTV, VH1, and CMT now known as Palladia *Military history detachment...
).
He is buried in Galärvarvskyrkogården in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.