More than 100 students intern at Viking Line each year – “These days at sea give people a lot of self-confidence”

Last spring, Viking Line received as many as 10,000 applications for summer employment.

Along with these sought-after summer jobs, Finland’s largest maritime employer provides supervised vocational training on its vessels every year for more than 100 young people doing studies in the industry. These internships are an important part of Finnish maritime training and a key pathway to employment.

Each year, up to 120 students from different schools undergo supervised vocational training in both maritime shipping operations and service on board Viking Line’s five vessels. Interns work with a broad range of tasks in both operations and service. The internships are an important part of training in the industry and must be completed before jobseekers can obtain a certificate of competence that attests to their professional qualifications.

Most interns come to Viking Line via the industry’s internship organization, PraktikKvarn, which arranges these positions. The association allocates internships in Finland’s commercial fleet equally to students at the country’s eight seats of learning involved in maritime education.

Over the past 12 months, 78 students have come to Viking Line via PraktikKvarn: 41 in deck, 29 in machinery and 8 in electrical operations. The company also takes on interns studying mechanical engineering and electrical engineering at Åland University of Applied Sciences and the maritime shipping industry’s different training programmes.

“We are Finland’s largest maritime employer. We absolutely want to be involved in training new professionals and building a future for the Finnish maritime shipping industry. The internships are also a key recruitment channel for us. Many interns return to us later to work – either as summer hires, replacement workers or permanent employees,” says Jenny Linnanlehto, HR Specialist at Viking Line.

”We get a lot of positive feedback from the interns. They especially commend the good supervision, team spirit and opportunity to learn through practical tasks. We are also pleased since the interns are highly motivated.”

Helsinki resident Elias Rosenqvist, 22, will qualify as a master (sea captain) in one year from South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK, Kotka Campus. He has completed the theoretical coursework and supervised internships that are part of the master training programme and now only has to complete his thesis. During his studies, Rosenqvist has worked at various shipping companies, including Viking Line, on a number of occasions. Late last year, he was hired permanently as an ordinary seaman (OS) on Gabriella, and he has also had the opportunity to work on a temporary basis as an able seaman (AB).

“For me, the maritime internship programme has been really important in teaching me the profession. While the theoretical studies are needed, operating a vessel largely involves practical operations – so the training to be a master is largely oriented to practical aspects. Maritime internships give you a lot of self-confidence, and you learn to take responsibility. It’s really important to be able to practice these tasks as an intern, together with someone who’s more experienced,” says Elias Rosenqvist.

Rosenqvist also got his first internship through PraktikKvarn, and since then he has been offered temporary jobs directly from the vessels.

“The arrangements for supervised internship days have always been smooth and flexible, even though I have a job. Basic things like meals, cabins and work clothes also work really well at Viking Line, and employees work well together. I like it that I don’t need to stress out about non-essential things and can instead focus on the job itself. That’s not something to be taken for granted, especially on cargo ships,” notes Elias Rosenqvist.

Before someone who has qualified as a master can get a job that requires that qualification, many years of experience are required, first as officer of the watch (OOW) and then as chief officer. Usually someone can get a job as sea captain 5-10 years after they get their degree.

“I feel that I’m well prepared with my studies for employment. Nonetheless, it’s attitude that determines whether I’ll be a good officer – not the curriculum, internship or anything else. I have a positive outlook for the future. While I like to be at sea, I may also want to study marine engineering at Alto University and specialize in offshore structures. That would give me more opportunities in the future.”

Viking Line is Finland’s largest maritime employer

• All five Viking Line vessels sail under a Finnish flag. The company is Finland’s largest maritime employer.
• Viking Line has 1,900 employees in Finland. Vessel cleaning in Finnish ports provides jobs for 400–500 people. The company is also one of Finland’s largest employers in the entertainment industry.
• More than 45 different professions work on board a vessel.
• Viking Line offers more than 100 internships for student in maritime educational programmes each year.

Through PraktikKvarn the company gets students from eight seats of learning:

• Axxell Utbildning Ab, Turku
• Ekami – The Joint Authority of Education of Kotka-Hamina Region
• Åland University of Applied Sciences, Mariehamn
• Novia University of Applied Sciences, Turku
• Satakunta University of Applied Sciences SAMK – Raumo Campus
• South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK, Kotka Campus
• WinNova, Raumo
• Åland Vocational School, Mariehamn

Each year the company offers 600 summer jobs as well as thousands of short-term jobs and temporary positions.

www.vikingline.com