Historic Marine Protected Areas - designation proposals: consultation report

Appendix A - Queen of Sweden

The proposal concerns a wrecked vessel, believed to be the Drottningen af Swerige, or ‘Queen of Sweden’, a Swedish East Indiaman (an armed merchant sailing vessel of the Swedish East India Company) which hit a rock off the rocky headland of the Knab, while seeking shelter in Bressay Sound, Shetland on 12 January 1745. The remains lie at a depth of approximately 14-25m close to Twageos Point, at the southern entrance to Lerwick Harbour.

Historic Environment Scotland advise that the wreck of Queen of Sweden meets the criterion of national importance for designation as a Historic MPA. The wreck is arguably the best preserved remains of a Swedish East Indiaman located in waters around Scotland. Although the wreck has been subject to historic salvage activity, key features are visible on the seabed and there is significant potential for further remains to be buried within the seabed sediments.

Combined with study of documentation in company archives, records of the ship’s loss and salvage, and an extensive collection of artefacts held by Shetland Museums, the remains of the wreck can significantly enhance our knowledge and understanding of vessels of the Swedish East India Company and its trading activity around Scotland’s coasts during the 18th century. Around this time, the Swedish East India Company played an important role in growing northern European trade with China in tea and silk.

The vessel’s loss in Bressay Sound bears testament to Shetland's strategically significant location on sea-routes linking northern Europe with the rest of the world. The loss of the Queen of Sweden was a significant event to local communities on Shetland at the time. Designation as a Historic MPA would recognise the wreck’s national importance and promote responsible actions by sea-users. In particular the site has been targeted recently by divers to recover lead ingots (carried as cargo), and it may continue to be vulnerable to unrecorded recovery of artefacts, without statutory protection. Designation will ensure that divers can continue to visit the site but, on a look, but don’t touch basis.