Getting Involved on m/s Oulu
The Oulu ship is at the heart of our association. We organize sea voyages by request, both in cooperation with communities and companies and as part of our own activities. We also run maritime training and rent out the ship’s spaces for different kinds of events. Alongside these, we offer catering and overnight stays on board. We also organize open event days at the harbor, run café activities, and introduce visitors to our historic ship.
All of our activities are organized by volunteers. You’re warmly welcome to join us! You don’t need any special skills to get involved, just curiosity, a good attitude, and a willingness to work together.
Right now, we have a little over 30 active members carrying out the roles described below. Many of our active members take on more than one role. For example, joining the crew and helping with mooring, or taking part in customer service and communications. The easiest way to start is to join in wherever it feels most natural, and then, if you like, try out other roles based on your interests and how much time you have. Be warned: life on board can be surprisingly addictive!
Volunteer Roles and Duties on the Oulu Ship
Captain and Mate
During sea voyages, the captain and mate command and navigate the ship from the bridge. Their duties include planning voyage routes and steering the ship.
The duties require a watchkeeping deck officer’s certificate of competency, a domestic trade skipper’s certificate, and a seafarer’s medical certificate. Vessel-specific training for the role is provided by those serving in corresponding positions on the Oulu ship.
Deckhand
During sea voyages, the deckhand handles mooring lines when the ship departs from and arrives at port and during anchoring at sea. The deckhand also serves as a lookout and may steer the ship under the captain’s supervision. In addition, the deckhand’s duties include ship maintenance, such as painting exterior surfaces and maintaining the lifeboat and rescue equipment, including life jackets and immersion suits.
The ship’s captain trains the deckhands. The training is vessel-specific and does not qualify a person to work as a deckhand on other vessels. The training includes orientation to the ship under the captain’s guidance, initial fire-fighting training, and vessel-specific training in fire and rescue equipment, including fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, the sprinkler system, and the locations of fire blankets. Practical skills are developed during sea voyages under the captain’s guidance and with support from the rest of the crew. A deckhand agreement required by Traficom is made with those training to become deckhands. A seafarer’s medical certificate is also required of deckhands.
Engineer
Several engineers are needed on board. During sea voyages, they work in shifts in the engine room and ensure that the ship’s machinery operates properly. Their duties include oiling and monitoring the engine while underway. Engineers also work on deck when needed. Together with the chief engineer and the rest of the crew, they plan and carry out the maintenance and upkeep required in the engine room throughout the year.
An engineer must hold a watchkeeping engineer’s certificate of competency or an engine operator’s certificate of competency, as well as a seafarer’s medical certificate. The Oulu ship has an engine output of less than 750 kilowatts, which means that an engine operator’s certificate is also sufficient for serving as an engineer. Vessel-specific training for the role is provided by the Oulu ship’s chief engineer.
Kitchen Staff
We provide various food and coffee services from the ship’s kitchen, or galley, for charter trips, meeting guests, volunteer workdays, café days, and other events. In addition to preparing food ourselves, we work with a catering partner that delivers ready-made food to the ship, while our team takes care of serving it.
The roles include, among others, ship’s cook, ship host, server, and customer service staff.
Other Customer Service at Events
During sea voyages and events held in port, customer service duties include welcoming customers, maintaining the passenger list, collecting payments, helping ensure that customers feel comfortable, giving ship presentations, and producing communication materials during events, such as videos and photos.
It is easy to get involved in customer service duties. Orientation takes place in practice at events, such as sea voyages and café days, by working together with the rest of the customer service team. Training in the use of the cash register and communication channels is provided by those already familiar with these duties.
Other Tasks
Stoppari
On the Oulu ship, the stoppari is a weekly duty watch responsible for daily vessel checks and on-call readiness while the ship is in port. The stoppari checks, among other things, that the ship’s engine and auxiliary engines are in good condition, that the heating water circulation is working normally, that there is enough fuel oil in the day tanks, and that everything is otherwise in order. In winter, the stoppari also monitors that the temperature on board does not fall too low. The stoppari is also available to respond if something unexpected happens on board. In such situations, they may need to check the cause of an equipment alarm, for example, and take action to resolve the hazardous situation. If needed, the rest of the ship’s crew and stoppari support, meaning long-serving members of the stoppari group, are available to help.
Vessel-specific training and instructions are provided for the stoppari role. The stoppari group reviews the instructions annually and discusses any changes together.
Maritime Training
We offer the following courses for both educational institutions and private individuals: International Certificate of Competence (ICC) training for operators of pleasure craft, European Code for Inland Waterways training (CEVNI), rental boat skipper training, SRC radio training, and radar training. In connection with these courses, it is also possible to obtain a certificate in vessel handling skills through our association.
The instructors are members of our association. To work as an instructor, relevant subject-matter competence and training experience are required. New instructors are introduced to the role by our instructors, and the courses are planned and taught by the training team. For those interested, there are also administrative coordination tasks related to training activities, including marketing, processing registrations, and invoicing support.
Communication Tasks
Communications for the Oulu ship are handled by a small team under the guidance of the association’s chair. We maintain the website, manage social media marketing, and handle member communications. If you are interested in any of these tasks and have an interest or previous experience in some area of communication, such as writing, photography, graphics, marketing, or other relevant skills, come and join us in planning and creating maritime communications content!
IT Support
The Oulu ship has a Wi‑Fi network, and the association also uses various computers and display equipment. We take care of maintaining and updating this equipment together with active members and a partner company. If you are interested in information technology and familiar with software updates and networks, these tasks could be a great fit for you.
Vessel Cleaning and Housekeeping
The Oulu ship is 36.7 metres long, and its facilities are spread across three decks. Customer areas on board include 11 two-person cabins, a former cargo hold converted into a training space, the captain’s saloon, and a sauna. In addition, the galley, or kitchen, is an essential part of customer service and meets the requirements for an institutional kitchen. There is also, of course, the mess, meaning the crew’s own coffee room. All these spaces are cleaned by active members as part of our volunteer work.
After sea voyages and other customer events, cleaning is arranged, and active participation is encouraged so that the work can be completed quickly together. Cleaning sessions are agreed among the active members.
Technical Maintenance of the Vessel
To keep the heritage vessel safe, operational, and compliant with regulatory requirements, maintenance is carried out throughout the year under the guidance of the chief engineer and the vessel’s captain.
The vessel must be dry-docked every five years, at which time the ship’s hull, machinery, and other systems are inspected and maintained. The most recent dry-docking was carried out in 2024 in Suomenlinna, and the next one should be scheduled for 2029.