”This boat could even withstand a nuclear explosion”, jokes Kristiina Moliis, the vessel’s shop-steward as she drags a garbage bag down the stairs.

The ro-ro vessel, which was originally christened the M/s Kahleberg, was built in 1983 in East-German, where it transported army supplies; tanks. The ship came under the Finnish flag at the beginning of the year 2005. The initials RG 1 were painted on the sides of the vessel in honour of its owner Rabbe Grönblom who was earlier better known as the ”pizza king” and later known for the Omena Hotels. There is as much publicity about the owner, who is the subject of non-stop writing in the media, as there is also about the RG Line Shipping Company, which depends heavily on state subsidies, to be able to ply its trade.

The crew of the vessel state that in everyday reality “the subsidies we receive from the state go straight away to pay for gasoline”.

20 years ago there were still three passenger ships plying their trade between Vaasa and Sweden, everyday. The stopping of the tax-free sales at the beginning of the 2000s caused the interest in cruising to fade in popularity. This resulted in the end of the story for many shipping companies in Vaasa. Now only the RG Line transports passengers across the Kvarken.

Kristiina says that “mothers, grandmothers as well as students regularly travel by RG 1 to Sweden. Many children of parents with their families have moved there and there are also many Finnish people studying in the University of Uumaja”.

In recent times, caravan travellers in particular have found their way on to the vessels. The Norwegians in particular flash by with their caravans every few minutes into the bowels of the hold of the ship.

Boatswain, Peter Byholm guesstimates that “Finland is surely tempting them with cheaper prices”, while raising the vessel’s stern port at the Vaasa end of the voyage.

Paper cartridges and trailers are an integral part of RG 1’s normal cargo. The truck traffic from Russia to Vaasa is also heavy. This time there are 23 truck drivers going onboard. The Russians fetch Volvo bodies from the factories in Uumaja and transport them to Russia.

  

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In the engine room, the crew deliberates the significance of Vaasa and RG1 to the transportation sector of Finland and its Eastern neighbour, Russia. It is only a short distance to trundle along from many of Russia’s town and villages to Vaasa.

”Short transport routes should be utilized significantly more than nowadays: the shorter the journey the cheaper the price – and at the same time it is also environmentally friendly”, says Bo Holm a repairman aboard the vessel who also emphasizes Vaasa’s good location in the middle of Finland.

 

The future of transportation in Kvarken begins to be a worn subject among the crew.

”We have no choice but to live one day at a time and hope for the best”, states Kristiina Moliis, the ship’s shop-steward.

Another constantly recurring subject talked about in the shipping company is the need for reducing the number of the crew. The RG1 has a crew of 21 people and now there are ongoing discussions about reducing the number by one. According to the shop-steward it is strange because there have been more than enough passengers and cargo.

Kristiina describes situations in which ”sometimes it has even happened that we have had to leave some passengers behind on the shore because there has not been enough crew members for the number of people who have wanted to come aboard.”

”If the number of passengers exceeds one hundred, then the number of crew members must be increased in accordance with the manning agreement.”

Skimping on the crew has been an expensive exercise as it has resulted in increased sick leave. In emergency situations a replacement must be found from under rocks and stumps.

”A constant rush and a long working week causes sick leave”, sighs Kristiina.

In RG I everyone is doing everything inside their own department so that the vessel can on the whole, move. They have a particularly hard time in the galley because the shift is only one week long and after reaching home there is not enough time to recover.

”The group’s nerves are beginning to be tested.  It has earlier been possible in our shipping company to apply for unpaid leave but during last summer it has become no longer possible and this is annoying many people”, says Kristiina as she echoes the crew’s feelings.

During the summer season there could be as many as three hundred passengers travelling on one of RG1’s voyages. Sweat is flowing during that time especially on the deck and in the galley.

“The voyage over the Kvarken takes over four hours. The kitchen is open during the whole voyage”, explains Kristiina Moliis who is in charge of the café.

Contrary to people’s expectations on the pizza king’s ship, the restaurant’s menu is very diverse.

”Many people are very surprised to discover that it is possible to also get something other than pizza. On the menu there are a lot of alternatives ranging from Hawaiian steak to salmon.”

In the restaurant, different types of steaks are frequently ordered, especially when there are hungry truck drivers in the queue.