Our Way 2/22 1
WALLENIUS SOL PHOTO KARIN RÖSE TEXT GEOFF MORTIMO
RE The art of the matter Another long-standing tradition, initiated by Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg, is to gift the Captain and Chief Engineer of each ship with a teddy bear as a companion onboard. Here Tobias Persson, Captain of Botnia Enabler, receives his. As the champagne bottle crashed against the side of Botnia Enabler, the christening of the vessel wasn’t the only significant tradition being marked. Like all of its predecessors, the special occasion saw the unveiling of a personally curated onboard art collection too. Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg, the matrisystem from what we like to call its ‘NASA centre’ in Stockholm,” continues Ragnar. Industrial boom in the north of Sweden Going forward, the two ships will both transport heavy cargo and products from the paper industry in and out of the Baltic Sea, serving ports in northern Sweden and Finland. “The north of Sweden is in the midst of a massive industrial boom, from the forest industry to the fossil-free steel being made by the likes of H2GS and Northvolt’s lithium-ion batteries – all of which are resulting in massive societal transformation,” says Ragnar, adding that this not only creates a lot of outgoing cargo, but also the need to import and transport materials to build factories, for example. This way of thinking is in line with the long-standing tradition, and one of Olof Wallenius’ business ideas, to never make a trip with an empty cargo hold, but always to transport goods in both directions. Open transport system WALLENIUS SOL has involved a range of companies in the new vessel project with the aim of creating an open transport system, flexible enough to carry the various types of cargo the region needs. “We called the vessels Enabler, because we want to be the enablers for the Gulf of Bothnia,” says Ragnar. “WALLENIUS SOL is a role model,” says Katarina Norén. “These vessels are larger, more efficient and more sustainable than their predecessors, and have involved all the relevant stakeholders to create the first open shipping system in the region. Sjöfartsverket is happy to wholeheartedly support this initiative in any way we can.” 6 OUR WAY 2/2022 arch of the Wallenius shipping dynasty, has as usual chosen the artwork and furnishings to help create a unique onboard environment on Botnia Enabler. By this, a tradition that dates back to the launch of m/s Atlantic Song in the 1960s is continued. As the collection has grown over the years, you could call it the world’s largest floating art gallery with works from established artists as well as many lesser-known creatives, and it is an assignment that has always been close to Margareta’s heart. “I know there are hotel chains that use art in public areas, but when it comes to shipping, I would say that the Wallenius Lines’ art tradition is completely unique,” she says. Each vessel, depending on size, has between 50 and 200 works of art onboard and all need to be tightly screwed into the walls to stop them from falling down during rough weather at sea. In terms of style, the art should be interesting and of good quality, as well as beautiful. Subjects vary, but they must fit in with the colour scheme onboard, and generally those in the public areas tend to be bolder, with more vivid colours. Margareta also strives to choose art that conveys feelings of calm, something that can be invaluable bearing in mind the often-long stretches and stressful conditions that the crew have to deal with at sea. I AM HONOURED TO BE GIVEN AN ASSIGNMENT LIKE THIS. I MYSELF HAVE A BACKGROUND IN THIS INDUSTRY AND WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN MIND, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE USE THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY. Ulla Löfven in WALLENIUS SOL’s magazine The Enabler. MARINE GODMOTHER To be a godmother (or godfather) is of course a great honour. The godmother not only has her portrait displayed onboard, but she also gets to christen the ship and acts as a protector for the ship and its crew. In Skellefteå, it was Ulla Löfven who smashed the traditional bottle of champagne against the Botnia Enabler´s hull.