Finnish Navy celebrates 106th anniversary with historical ships and military parade in Kotka Harbour

Today, Tuesday, the Finnish Navy is celebrating its anniversary in Kotka, an occasion which has filled the Kotka Main Harbour with historical sailing ships and Finnish Defence Forces’ warships. The Polish sailing ship Dar Młodzieży, participating in the Tall Ships’ Races, arrived at the Kotka Main Harbour on Monday.

In attendance at the celebration was the commander of the Finnish Navy, Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen, who stated that the Navy is present in the southeastern Baltic Sea and near the Russian border. According to Tiilikainen, the Navy closely monitors traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland. The changing security situation has increased the Navy’s international cooperation, training, and exchange of information with various allies.

The festivities which marked the 106th anniversary of the Navy included a parade review showcasing military hardware. The parade was commanded by the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jukka Anteroinen. The harbour was filled with people enjoying the summer weather and the impressive ships.

On display at the public exhibition in the harbour was a Jurmo-class personnel carrier boat, which also offered public tours. Units marched in the parade review, which was watched attentively by onlookers.

A couple, Otto Julin and Laura Pienmunne, were there to look at the ships and enjoy the summer day. Julin, who served in the Navy off the coast of Kotka on Kirkonmaa and in Suomenlinna, shared that the event brought back memories of his service time.

The crowd lined up to view the interiors of the warship. Julin shared his experience of marching in uniform in the Independence Day parade in Jyväskylä. He said, “We moved around with Jurmo-class boats in the coastal troops, which are also on display here. I also got to see many of the larger ships back then.”

The mine countermeasures vessel MHC Vahterpää, visible in the background, had just returned to Finland from a NATO assignment.

The Navy’s anniversary is on July 9th, which is also the anniversary of the great second naval battle of Ruotsinsalmi fought off the coast of Kotka in 1790. Erik Tirkkonen, the exhibition curator of the Finnish Maritime Museum, shared information about the battle and what memories of it remain in the museum. The battle of Ruotsinsalmi in 1790 is the largest naval battle in the history of the Baltic Sea.