GTS Finnjet -memorial "relight"

In December of 2009, our German-speaking board proposed to display a Finnjet-based information plaque, within a glass box at the terminal. The glass display case still bears the name of the famed vessel, tho underneath masking tape.

Our society member Mr Heinonen has successfully contacted the terminal management of the original Finnjet -terminal in Helsinki. The masking tape apparently will come off without damage to the title and the keys of the display case are safe. But this is not all, our society is allowed to proceed with the proposal!

The society thanks the management lead of the terminal and our member Mr Heinonen!

To make this plaque as informational, dignified and visually inspiring as possible, the chairman proposes an open discussion in our forum, in regards to the plaque.

The annual general assembly will unfortunately have to be postponed, until June of this year, due to pressing scheduling issues of a key society member. To compensate for this late change, the meeting will feature both options of meeting in person in Helsinki, or by attending via computer. The exact date and location have yet to be decided.

Some discussion topics for the meeting:
- Selection of the next society recreational and or educational event/s.
- New candidates for the board of the society.

Society annual general assembly to be held on May 30th, 2010. 

Where: www.finnjet.fi - members only forum. 

When: 18:00 Finnish time, 17:00 German time. 

All registered members of Finnjet Historical Society ry have full voting rights.

Please submit your new suggestions at least one week prior to the meeting. These suggestions can for example range from activity proposals to exchange of society staff or board members. 

A list of issues to be discussed and the meeting protocol will be posted one week before the meeting.

Other notifications:

- Mr Leskinen has opened up a bank account on behalf of the society. He also donated 100€ for the running costs of the account.

- Mr Brech has negotiated for us a permit to display the technical plans of the original GTS Finnjet reduction gears. 

- Mrs Pulli and Mr Kangasalusta continue to search for the film and image archive of the late Mr Finnig. Could you perhaps help them?

- Mr Junni and Mr Junni have received t-shirts with the new society logo-roundel printed on them. The roundel was designed by Mr Peter Schultze. More information will follow.

- The twin memorial -project, initiated by Mr Kempas, has failed, after the smelting yard in the UK has destroyed half of the project materials. The society thanks Mr Haapanen, Mr du Maire,  Mr Moerchen and Rolls Royce (Finland, Germany, Sweden and United Kingdom) for their involvement in the project.

Released 2010-02-17

The board of directors has at the recommendation of the chairman decided to open up the title and post of "director of operations".

In the latter part of the board meeting, society member Mr Johannes Schultze was nominated to the new post. The motion was followed by a vote, where five board members voted for the motion and one abstained from the vote.

The new director of operations will in practice handle several duties previously handled by the chairman of the society. The chairman's current post will be reduced to a more supervisory role.

Finnjet Historical Society ry

The board of directors

Where are the twin memorials?

In October of 2008, a project was initiated, with the intent of honouring the time and essence of the groundbreaking and legendary cruiseferry GTS Finnjet. The intent is to erect two memorials. One at Travemünde, Germany and a second at Katajanokka, Helsinki, Finland. These two memorials will be constructed out of used, but overhauled spare parts of the famous vessel. Eight propeller blades of the fastest conventional ferry ever built, reside in the United Kingdom, awaiting purchase and pickup.

The technical director of the harbour of Helsinki, Mr Aarno Ahti has informed us, that if someone delivers the blades to them, they shall mount them on a pedestal right at the original terminal, where Finnjet sailed from. The artists' vision calls for three blades.

Mr Lohff at Travemünde has promised a similar deal and at a location, where the Priwall city ferries depart. This grassy park is also a high visibility location.

For this project to come to fruition, we need someone, who will be able to get the manager of the British smelting yard to set a price and to sell these items. For nine months we have hoped to hear for an asking price from the good gentleman. The manufacturer of the propeller blades, Rolls Royce (former KaMeWa), have offered to overhaul the blades into a shiny fine condition at the cost of materials and labour.

The reward for the hero will come in the form of fame, recognition and this only at the cost of a newspaper advertisement! Even more pleasant is the fact, that such a project would garner a considerable amount of positive media attention!

More information, images and contact details can be obtained from the following persons:

In Finland: Mr Risto Kempas

In Germany: Mr Jan Moerchen

At email addresses: firstname.lastname@finnjet.fi