Superstar Leo

22.09.1998 - 23.12.1998

2nd officer
m/v Superstar Leo

Superstar Leo (unknown photographer)

Superstar Sagittarius

16.06.1998 - 16.09.1998

2nd officer
m/v Superstar Sagittarius

Superstar Sagittarius at Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia

Roslagen

20.05.1998 - 08.06.1998

2nd officer
M/s Roslagen

Roslagen (unknown photographer)

Columbus Caravelle

09.01.1998 - 17.04.1998

Captain
m/v Columbus Caravelle

M/s Columbus Caravelle at WTC in Singapore

Finnmaid

07.10.1997 - 15.12.1997

2nd officer
m/s Finnmaid

Finnmaid (photo by Dirk Jankowsky)

Columbus Caravelle

02.06.1996 - 10.09.1996 Chief Officer
10.09.1996 - 04.11.1996 1st Officer (Safety)
03.12.1996 - 07.07.1997 Chief Officer
M/v Columbus Caravelle

M/v Columbus Caravelle

Master unlimited

Having been at it for 10 years in total I had finally completed my studies, at least for now. The universal day in Finland was that on the last day of May all schools closed for summer and students got their end of semester reports. I had been doing my Captains ticket for past 2 years now but the overall "process" started in 1984 when I joined Åbo Navigations Institut's general ratings course.

We all gathered at the Åbo Navigations Institut (Aboa Mare today) up on the "hill" and gathered in the big center lobby with all classes mingling together. There all Classes were divided up after the opening speech by the headmaster. Then certificates were given to each and everyone that had earned them (there was a few that had dropped out or needed more experience to get their competence), I was among our class one of the few that had the requisite experience to get the Master's COC on this very day!

Aboa Mare

The mood was very festive and also some stipends were given out. I was the 2nd student of my class deemed to be conscientious so I got a small monetary stipend to that effort. If I recall correctly it was 500 Finnish marks which works out to about a 100 euros, not much today, back in 1996 it would amount to a night out, still, a nice sign of appreciation. After having dispensed all formalities we got a glass of champagne for having graduated as Master Mariners and our headmaster told us "any ship, any trade" applies. Yes, today one might need a few additional certs for the sort of the ship (tanker, passenger vessel).

It was time to leave so we got our certificates and left the school, it was a sunny day and the birch trees had broken out fresh leaves, the air smelled fresh of the coming summer and life felt good. Few of us decided to go for a few celebratory drinks at the now defunct "Börs terrace" or familiarly called the "bush" because the terrace was in a back enclosure of the hotel and had a few trees growing up there among the tables. I recall we all sat there among the university graduates in their white hats and us with our fresh Captains tickets, sun was shining down from a clear sky through the branches. Couldn't stay for long as I needed to get home to my parents to give them the good news.

At home I was gifted the "American Practical Navigator" by Nathaniel Bowditch as well as another glass of champagne. Big tomes to read when I'll get retired. It was time to celebrate and pack my luggage as in few days I was off to Hong Kong  to sign on the Columbus Caravelle as Chief officer. My new chapter in life had began.

Delfin Star

04.04.1995 - 08.08.1995

Chief officer
M/s Delfin Star

m/s Delfin Star at Ocean Terminal

Winden

12.12.1994 - 18.01.1995

2nd officer
M/s Winden

Winden (unknown photographer)

Atlanta Forest

03.03.1994 - 04.09.1994
08.01.1993 - 02.08.1993
1st Officer
m/s Atlanta Forest

As Kent Forest (unknown photographer)

Finnsailor

01.02.1994 - 17.02.1994

2nd officer
m/s Finnsailor

m/s Finnsailor

Norden

08.11.1993 -20.12.1993

1st officer
m/s Norden

Norden (unknown photographer)

Anne

17.09.1993 -22.10/1993

Chief officer
m/s Anne

Anne (courtesy from shipspotting.com)

Atlanta Forest

08.01.1993 - 02.08.1993

03.03.1994 - 04.09.1994

2nd Officer

Atlanta Forest

Here still under Finnlines as m/s Atlanta

Bona Fe

1991-1992

2nd Officer

m/s Bona Fe

Bona Fe loaded (photographer unknown)

Mariella

Christmas and New Year temp gig
m/s Mariella

m/s Mariella (photographer unknown)

Bore Britannica

18.05.1989 - 05.06.1989 OS
19.06.1989 - 13.07.1989 OS
18.12.1989 - 04.01.1990 OS
09.04.1990 - 20.04.1990 OS
24.05.1990 - 25.06.1990 OS
26.06.1990 - 05.07.1990 AB

Ordinary seaman 

Able seaman (combined deck/engine)

Bore Britannica

LOA 156 m

GT 15525

Bore Britannica (unknown photographer)

Pasila

21.07.1989 - 19.08.1989
Ordinary seaman

The bad times in Finnish shipping were still going on in late 80's and jobs were always temporary. Nobody employed crew on a permanent contract due to no vacancies as ships were sold en masse abroad or flagged abroad under flags of convenience. 

This time I had been called up from the job centre to report to Pasila as ordinary seaman. I signed on at west coast in some port (I think Pori) with a power plant as ESL shipping's vessels supplies coal to all of them in Finland. As soon as we were empty we sailed for Poland or another port on the Baltic south coast to load more coal and bring it back to the hungry power plants.

Pasila being towed (unknown photographer)

Military service

In 1988 I was drafted to do my military service and I managed to get into the Navy. In Finland this could be tricky as the draft officers could be difficult and just assign you far up north to Lappland if you wanted to be in the Navy. Furthermore, I was a serving merchant navy seaman so it was bound to attract some questions if I would not like to go inland and serve my country. Fortunately the Draft Officer was in a good mood and after some discussion he assigned me to Helsinki to do my basic training. 

Photo by Kari Martiala

Crewing onboard as rating

In 1985 I graduated from the General Rating (fit for work on deck and engine) class on 31st of May as was customary for schools in Finland. During the spring I had been running to different shipping companies looking for a job and as it was a recession period in those days it was pretty hard to get hired. 

Bore Sun, built 1977 in Norway

Bore Queen

26.02.1986 - 26.03.1986
11.04.1986 - 20.05.1986
01.07.1986 - 09.09.1986
23.09.1986 - 14.01.1987

Ordinary Seaman
m/s Bore Queen

Bore Queen (unknown photographer)

Fortuna

21.08.1985 - 05.09.1985

Ordinary seaman

m/s Fortuna

Fortuna

Bore Sun

14.06.1985 - 20.07.1985 OS

04.10.1985 - 13.12.1985 OS

02.01.1986 - 10.01.1986 OS

24.01.1986 - 31.01.1986 OS

04.04.1986 - 10.04.1986 OS

13.02.1987 - 08.05.1987 OS

29.05.1987 - 12.06.1987 OS

26.06.1987 - 10.07.1987 OS

31.07.1987 - 21.08.1987 OS

04.09.1987 - 11.09.1987 AB

12.09.1987 - 25.09.1987 OS

16.10.1987 - 30.10.1987 AB

06.11.1987 - 13.11.1987 Engine apprentice

14.11.1987 - 20.11.1987 AB

21.11.1987 - 27.11.1987 AB

04.12.1987 - 18.12.1987 AB

19.12.1987 - 30.12.1987 Engine apprentice

31.12.1987 - 15.01.1988 OS

01.02.1988 - 20.02.1988 AB

Ordinary seaman

Able Seaman

Carpenter

Engine apprentice

m/s Bore Sun

LOA 150 m

GT 10762

Bore Sun (by Tommy Gjerling)

School - General rating

In 1984 I was completing my basic schooling from class 9 at St. Olofsskolan i Åbo. It was the only Swedish speaking school in my hometown and all with Swedish as mother tongue was attending this school. Even some Finnish speaking parents opted to put their kids through Swedish school so they would learn the language. Anyway, towards the last semester the study coordinator started briefing us kids of where to go and start higher studies.

Åbo Navigations Institut