Maritime Centre Vellamo

The new Maritime Centre Vellamo opened in mid-July in the old port of Kotka, Finland, has proved to be a great success right from the beginning. The new landmark and pride of Kotka attracted 40 000 visitors by the end of August which is more than anyone dared to hope for. This architectural masterpiece situated in the old port of Kotka was designed by architect Il-mari Lahdelma and is the home of the Maritime Museum of Finland, the Museum of Kymenlaakso and Kotka and the Information Centre Vellamo. The Maritime Centre Vellamo also houses a 200-seat auditorium, museum shop, restaurant and teaching facilities.

The Maritime Museum of Finland is a national museum whose role is to preserve and interpret the history of Finnish seafaring. It is governed by the National Museum of Finland which is one of the museums of the National Board of Antiquities. The highest official above all these is the Ministry of Education. The permanent exhibition of the Maritime Museum of Finland concentrates on the history of Finnish seafaring with emphasis on the everyday life of seamen, development of ships, mercantile marine as well as marine transport and tourism. The history of navigation is also an area of interest as well as the speciality of northern seafaring and the underlying theme of the exhibition: winter navigation and ice.

The Museum of Kymenlaakso and Kotka is governed by the city of Kotka and its main task is to preserve, research and present the history of Kotka and the whole province of Kymenlaakso.

The permanent exhibition of the Museum concentrates on the themes of efficiency and the relationship between individual and society. It studies among other things the concept of time, meaning of money, battle of Ruotsinsalmi, growing demand of efficiency on all areas of life and on the other hand, leisure time and having fun. Different borders and crossing them is one of the themes of the exhibition and particularly of the section dedicated to the Coast Guard Museum.

The Information Centre Vellamo offers library, archive and photograph services. The library opens for public in September 2008 and the archives in the spring of 2009.