High seas detective

"Khaled A" just before sunset

Piracy - part 2

Having written a piece back in 2008 I thought a follow up might be in order regarding piracy as a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.

The old high risk area (courtesy of Latitudebrokers)

Nao Trinidad

"Nao Trinidad" in Port Tarraco

History of Kalizma

I was doing a post of my experience on Kalizma and included a history section in it but discovered that there is quite a bit of it on the net so I separated it here and added to it, enjoy:

Kalizma, built in 1906, is considered the world's oldest yacht with a rich history. It has survived world wars, plagues, changing ownerships, and various life events, making it a symbol of resilience and endurance. The original name though, Minona, is after the African Goddess of sorcery and  fortunetelling. Still I wonder how much of the original steel remains in her keel though...

Robert Stewart

Seafaring culture

An old colleague of mine, Lauri Vuorinen, published his musings in Finnish that I have freely translated into English. On the subject, the pictures are all courtesy from another colleague Hannu Vartiainen from 70's-80's.

Ever Given

Probably the most known picture about Ever Given that broke into the media

(Courtesy of GCaptain)

Across two Oceans in the Fennia

After having learned about Fennia in Falklands during my visit I did some research and came over the diary of Mr Howlett on JStor that depicts his voyage from Australia to Europe in 1926. He had the wherewithal to negotiate his passage and then had the luxury to take off in Chile for some sightseeing so he was not a deck boy per se a but still helped and worked where he could as well as taught he cadets English. I also have corrected the anglicised names with the Scandinavian alphabet.

Fennia crew at the helm

Sail training ship Fennia

Having visited Falklands I came over the information by accident in a pub that a Finnish sailing vessel, FENNIA, had in early 1900's limped into Port Stanley jury rigged after having been partly demasted in a severe storm. 

Poster of shipwrecks around Falklands

Lawhill in the news

Lawhill (courtesy of Clydeships)

Lawhill chronology

Lawhill colorized with the Finnish flag (courtesy of Erick Navas)

Seafaring life

This article was originally published by the Finnish seamen's mission in Finnish, below is a translation of it:

A Sailors life is full of surprises!

21st March 2023

Jan Rautawaara and Juha Pokka in front of "Anny"

Newbuild delivery Vietnam

After some 3 weeks of R&R following the disaster after m/y Trident I saw myself joining ship again. This time in Da Nang,  Vietnam to commission and deliver a newbuild from Damen.  I flew in via Ho Chi Minh city where I was to collect my business visa and then fly onwards to Da Nang. 

Visa scrum

Boadicea

19.11.2021 - 25.01.2022
28.08.2021 - 18.10.2021
Captain
m/y Boadicea

Boadicea in Nice

Rescue of Wilhelmine - the whole story

The story of Wilhelmine was broken up into several posts due to the length of each chapter. 

In Kalmar

Rescue of Wilhelmine - epilogue

If you've read all the previous posts you know by now she was only rescued from an undignified end rusting asunder at an deserted beach despite our greater ideas that were smashed by the pandemic.

Bow section chomped to pieces by hydraulic scissors

Wilhelmine in media

As Wilhelmine was resuscitated and moved about she broke the news barrier and below are few articles published by Finnish papers that I've freely translated below in chronological order. 

Kimito nyheter 24.11.2020:

Main picture of article in Kimito news.

Wilhelmine in history

Obviously as Wilhelmine was built in 1953 and sailed 30+ years under German flag in Europe before she was bought to Finland in the 80's a lot had time to happen to the people that sailed her and to Wilhelmine herself.

Waalhafen 1970's, courtesy of Shipnostalgia by "oktoon"

Rescue of Wilhelmine - the end

Team selfie

Caipirinha

05.05.2021 - 30.06.2021

Captain

m/y Caipirinha

Caipirinha alongisde in Durres

St Helena (the ship)

15.01.2021 - 25.02.2021
01.08.2020 - 23.10.2020
04.01.2020 - 24.06.2020
04.11.2019 - 27.12.2019

m/v St Helena (ex MNG Tahiti, RMS St Helena)

Captain

St Helena in Birkenhead, UK before the refit