The main museum building was opened on 5 September 1975 by then-president of Germany Walter Scheel, though scientific work already had started in 1971.

The building and the 8 ships of the museum fleet, located between the Old Harbor and the Weser dike, as an esemble was placed under Bremen Cultural heritage management in 2005.

In 2000 at the 25th anniversary of the museum, the Hansekogge, a ship constructed around 1380 that was found in the Weser river in 1962, was presented to the public after having undergone a lengthy process of conservation in a large preservative-filled basin.

For this purpose, the DSM is equipped with laboratories and technical facilities for the examination, conservation and restoration of different types of water craft as well as other objects.

It also houses a wide range of artefact collections and a dedicated archive and specialist library with adjacent reading room.