My ex colleague Jan sent me in mid Oct some pictures of a small coaster that looked very quaint. At same breath he asked if I'd be interested in kicking her alive after 10 years of cold lay-up at a beach in Kimito Island and tentatively deliver her to shipbreakers in Denmark. Yes, I said, I'm always up to a challenge, especially one like this, one of a kind adventure.
As I was soon due leave I made plans to travel to Finland. With the pandemic raging in Europe it was all a bit touch an go so I took the train from Liverpool to Harwich and then the ferry to Rotterdam where I continued across Netherlands and Germany to Luebeck where i boarded the Finnlines ferry to Helsinki.
On the ferry I coincidentally bumped into an old acquaintance, Capt Fredrik, who had finished his contract with Saga cruises newbuild and was returning home together with his wife. The mood was pretty festive to say in the least.
Likewise Captain Pekka of Finnlady was an old classmate of mine that I hadn't met in years, it was nice to exchange news. The crew on the ferry was minimal due to covid cuts. Anyway, I arrived in good order to Helsinki on 28th Oct and headed for Loviisa where I was to meet Jan and Juha onboard the 92yr old m/v Greta where she was to be first put into winter condition before heading over to m/v Wilhelmine and her startup operation.
I was early (or Greta was late) and had ample time to make my way to the old timber dock at Sahaniemi after disembarking the bus at the centre of town. In the old days there used to be a train connection inland where the timber came from, the rails were still testimony on the jetty. The pier itself was made of wood and in a miserable condition, full of holes, on one side there was an old carferry and a larger motorboat, both in dire need of tlc like the pier.
Autumn landscapes
Sahaniemi itself was more like a nature area for the local populace and it seemed popular for cars to come and drive to the end roundabout and back. After having a walk myself I saw several signs warning of harmful substances in the ground, probably from the sawmill activities from before.
After few hours I could see a red spot approaching and soon enouh Greta pulled up on the other side of the jetty and made fast with the bow almost ashore. After initial helloes it was time to chuck my luggage onboard and make myself at home & have an induction to Greta. It was already evening so soon enough it was time for dinner and some shuteye.
Hatch pontoons arrive
The next days were busy to arrange for the pickup of new hatch covers for Greta from the adjacent port of Valkom. Unfortunately the contractor was a bit late in his delivery schedule and then the delivery truck acted up so we ended up moving to Valkom only on the 4th Nov.
In between we made good use of the time and headed for Kotka maritime museum to see their display. It was nice venue but in general the lighting in museum was lacking. We were also disappointed that the old icebreaker was not accesssible out of the season. I guess the staff was freezing too much onboard and funds were not sufficient to put the heat on.
After loading the hatches on the coaming we headed back to Sahaniemi for the night and then due to weather we sailed on the 6th morning to Helsinki and docked her at Halkolaituri for the winter.
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