The society has once again filled a empty position. From now on Mrs Ritva Pulli will make certain that we don't just sit at our computers feeling sorry for our GTS Finnjet.

And there are big news in this regard already in December! Finnlines Oyj has promised to offer us a cruise at a reduced price. The former crews of GTS Finnjet and the members of the small Finnjet society are both invited on this landmark 4-day cruise. In earlier years the crews have met each other and this fine tradition fortunately continues. By including our society we will be able to bring more crews of Finnjet, designers and builders, passengers and admirers into the joint cruise.

The event is labeled as a little Christmas cruise. However, the timing of this event has deeper symbolic meaning. On the Finnish independence day in 1973 the traditional candles could be lit with pride. The news was out, Finland would build a true landmark of a ship. Three years later the first sea trials were performed close to the independence day once again.

So, do keep the days around the 6^th of December reserved for Finnjet. More about the trip, the arrangements and program will be featured in the upcoming society internal FHS COMPASS -newsletter.

Thank you Finnlines and Ritva!

As our German-speaking audience has noted, a lot of translations are missing. "We find it rather upsetting when there are no chocolates on the pillow. Therefore we shall substitute this with a bag of gummibears."

The publisher of the German maritime news service Seefahrt-Aktuell, Mr Marcel Brech,  shall from now on publish selected news articles for our audience. Our society works daily without a pause and now also the public will get an impression of this. I wish to thank our member Mr Brech for his fine contribution to our society and to GTS Finnjet.

-RK

Encompassing work by FHS

During the last half year several FHS members have brought our society to the attention of manufacturers who took part in the construction of the superferry GTS Finnjet.

As a chairman I always try to find the right woman or man for the task at hand. Today I can once again say that our members truly are the backbone of our society.

Bosch Rexroth AG from Germany sent to our member Mr Marcel Brech a very friendly letter and plenty of exciting materials. Some of it can be seen already in our picture gallery. The materials in question are about the first set of reduction gears that Finnjet employed.

In 1975 the media focus was on Travemünde, where the police lead the convoy of trucks to the M/S Hans Gutzeit. The reduction gears were ready to be shipped to Finland, where they would be installed on the magnificent ship. The symbol of progress was upon us!

I wish to extend my gratitude to Bosch Rexroth AG and to Mr Brech!

-RK

--- Article only available in Finnish and Swedish ---

Konepäällystöliiton tuore julkaisu "Voima ja Käyttö" 7-8/2009 sisältää oivallisen artikkelin otsikolla: "GTS Finnjet, ja hyvät vuodet Helsingin telakalla, mutta telakkakonkurssi 23.10.1989 ei unohdu?

Artikkeli sisältää konkurssiaikojen muistelun lisäksi Finnjetin ensimmäisen konepäällikön Veikko Haapasen muistelua aluksensa alkuhetkiltä: "Kaikki alkoi mappikasasta".

Saimme  päätoimittaja Wikströmiltä luvan esittää heidän Finnjet-aineistoaan kotisivuillamme. Ohessa Jarmo Heikkisen skannaus jutusta. Kiitokset molemmille herroille.

Voima ja Käyttö 7-8/2009

I have unpleasant news from our technical advisor:

There will be no container from India! Up here in the north it is customary, that when an agreement has been reached, the price will remain fixed. However, in India the customs of trade are very different. The equipment was re-marketed to pump up the price yet again. This practise is even more appalling when there are delivery dates to keep and transports arranged. The same cursed phenomena cost us already the whole vessel and now this.

It seems that we will have to settle for one messy B-cabin in the maritime museum. I wouldn't mind if the professionals of GTS Finnjet went in and cleaned that cabin...