The 8th layer sunk the warship!
On the 28th of July 2009 we invite you to a very special event in the most spectacular setting imaginable – in the museum of the world’s oldest warship. This is the main reason why we chose this unique venue for the social gathering. However, there were other motives, as well. There is a lesson to be learnt from the regal ship Vasa’s catastrophic maiden voyage and how it relates to the work we all carry out on a day-to-day basis. How so, you ask? Please bear with us as we go for a swim in the salty sea of metaphors while telling you the story on how the Vasa sunk.
Back in the 17th century there were not yet any scientific methods of calculating a ship’s stability. Because of this, it happened from time to time that warships keeled over and sank. The reason for many 17th century warships´ unsteadiness were their heavy payload – the massive guns. These were placed quite high up in the ship, but were counter weighted with ballast at the bottom of the ship´s hull. In the case of the Vasa, the ship was measured by its builders to have only one gundeck. Instead, it ended up with two. The standard rules were not applied. In addition, the ships stone ballast was not enough to make her steady as well a rock. Meanwhile, in Polish Prussia, the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus was restlessly awaiting the mighty warship to be completed and that the 64 artillery guns would be deployed at sea. The issues of over dimensioned firepower and the Kings impatience took the lead in the project with disastrous results to follow. Politics being triumphant over engineering, if you may.
Now, the metaphorical part. We’ll take a wild guess that you are familiar with The Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model. To the seven layers of the OSI model is sometimes added an eighth layer. We are talking about the political layer. The ill-fated regal ship Vasa had eight floors, which evidently was one too many. The politics of completing the world’s most powerful warship in a hurry superseded the task of building a vessel that could actually sail. When the eighth layer enters the equation, things can get out of hand. One thing we can be pretty sure of is that if the ship designers and master builders of the 17th century had access to the discussions, networking and peer-review culture that we’ll have at the IETF 75, that horrific incident some 381 years ago could have been avoided.
We are really looking forward to seeing you at the Vasa museum (And promise not to pest you with more metaphorical stories) !
Warm regards,
.SE
Source: The Vasa Museum
Mingle with class
Courtesy of the Mayor of Stockholm, a welcome reception will be held at the emblematic Stockholm City Hall, where the Nobel Prize laureates celebrate. Another social event will take place at Stockholm’s biggest tourist attraction, the Vasa museum, where you will dine next to the world’s only remaining, intact 17th century ship.
Things to do
When you are not in IETF meetings, Stockholm has lots to offer. Why not bring your family or relatives along? Stroll through the picturesque old town, take a boat tour or rent a canoe and paddle your way around ‘Venice of the North’, visit one of the thousands of islands in the archipelago or go swimming at a beach in the city centre.