ANDREN WIKAR

 

Mollyhawk

I was born in Mörby village. Hammarland parish Åland May 30th 1915.

I will here try to tell you what I have done, and perhaps not done, during all these years, I think  I can say, it has been a life of ups and down I have to admit, mostly ups especially in later time. Or on the other hand, I think, that is about like that for us all. We have a  mighty God and He knows what is best for us, perhaps sometime a little difficult to understand, but at the end the old proverb best as happen is still the truh, I think and then to the reason for this letter.

1928, 3 months, cook deckboy, on two mast schooner PRISMUS of Hammerland ( not signed on ) .

1929 from May 29 to January 30 deckboy on 4-masted schooner DIONE from Sottunga.

1930 ordinary seaman on 3-masted schooner NORDEN from Geta, 5 months.

1930 able seaman on 3-masted barque SHAKESPEARE from Hango for only one monts (went aground at Norrskär, North  Kvarten, ans she is still there)

1931 from August to August 1933 One mast barque LAWHILL of Mariehamn , One year able seaman and one year sailmaker. Rounded Cape Horn as OS/AB

in 1931 and as Sailmaker in 1932, 1933 to 1934 navigations school Mariehamn. Now I  had my mates licence.

1934 May 30th my birth day signed out as 2nd mate on 3 mast barque ELÄKÖÖN of Mariehamn. That lasted three months for me. Sick and to sanatorium for six months.

1935 and 1936, Navigation School in Mariehamn and got my first mates licence. Then I become sick again and was laid up until 1938. That included one year in a sanatorium .

From May 1938 to May 1940 lighthouse keeper on Sälskärs Ligthouse 25 long months.

Obtained Master Mariner's certificate in Mariehamn in 1944.

From August 1940 and until 1947 onboard in s s YRSA of Mariehamn.

I was two years 2nd mate, and then chief mate. The last three years  I was also master of the ship for part of time.

1947 in September to september 1951, Master in m s YVONNE, that included 7 months as owners representative during building of the ship in Holland.

1951October to September 1957 master on m s YVETTE. Included are 11 months in Holland as owners representative during building of the ship.

And that was the end of my experience in Finnish vessels and ships. I had a lovely time with no complains. YRSA, a lucky ship, we went through the whole war time and also after, through all the mine infested Baltic and Northsea, through bombing-raids in Germany. Not a scratch, nor a wound, to either ship nor crew. That is more than luck, that is Gods protecting hands.

In October 1957 I came to Welenius Line in Stockholm 5 months in m t SOYA ANDREA as 2nd mate trading Carribbean  Sweden.

1958 March to February 1959 m s ISOLDE as 1st mate trading U.S. east coast and Europe.

1959 from February to April 1960, 1st mate s s  FIGARO, Europe U.S  west and east coast. That time included 10 months in Germany during building of the vessel.

From April 1960, 3 months in Goteborg, building SOYA MARIA, a 17000 T tanker .

From June 1960 to March 1961 in Germany as Shore Captain for Wallenius Lines vessels.

From 1960 I can say that I began a new profession. From that time on I also had the Captains salary and I never went to sea anymore.

March the 6th 1961, I landed in U.S.A. .I became Wallenius Lines port captain in U.S.A. I had to travel a lot here on the east coast also to Canada and to the west coast.The first  two years I worked day time and travel at night time. Then I began to learn to delegate and know the different ports what could be done or not done without me. The Wallenius time here lasted about 6 and a 1/2 good years .

Now came Atlantic Container Line. It was in September 1967. I became Operating Manager. Wallenius Line was part owner in that shipping Line, 22 percent .

It was therefore with their blessing I made the move. My head office for both Wallenius Line and A.C.L was in New York .

1971, I was moved to Baltimore Maryland, with the same title and function.

1977, I retired, 62 years ol, Company rule .

I was 5 days retired, a new British-Greek-Arab shipping company picked me up Morland Navigation, with head office in London. We had to begin from Zero , I wasowners representative, port captain, and everything except to book cargo.

The trade was between U.S.A east coast and the Persian Gulf. That lasted 3 years. Company divided and partly sold. I got a months extra salary and then Good-by.

We had now June 1980.

For additional 3 years I had a Marine survey company going, but in 1983 I thought that I had made enough to the community at large and took my otium ar a retairee.

We live in Leeonia New Jersey for 10 Years. Moved to Towson Maryland 1971.

My dear wife, Margaretha (PIAN) died in 1994. In 1993 we sold our house in Towson and moved in to a large Retirement Community, we are 2350 residents here, in Catonsville Maryland.

This is my saga and here I am .

Wikar K . Andren .