Finnish teen starts as summer worker, now becomes shipmaster

Iisa Kähkönen, 21, has qualified as a shipmaster after beginning as a summer worker at age 16 with Roll Risteilyt, a Finnish inland waterway cruise operator, Yle reports.

Kähkönen, who has worked on the company’s vessels for five summers, received her inland and coastal passenger ship license this week and is now ready to take the helm of a large passenger vessel.

“This is a unique field. I absolutely encourage all young people to consider it or at least try it out,” she said.

The inland and coastal waterway sector faces a persistent shortage of qualified captains and crew, forcing some operators to reduce services. Petri Luotio, chair of the inland waterway association, said young people are often drawn to international shipping rather than domestic routes, partly due to misconceptions about the work.

“It’s not just spending days on gentle waves in the sun—it’s hard work,” he said.

Kähkönen, the only woman and youngest participant in her recent training course, noted that the industry remains male-dominated and aging. Finland’s maritime workforce is about 50% women, but inland waterway roles are less diverse.

Roll Risteilyt has addressed the labor gap by investing in long-term training, allowing employees like Kähkönen to study while working. The six-month hybrid shipmaster program includes remote learning and in-person weekends in Kotka, with 240 days of practical training required.

Noora Kivi, the company’s CEO, said the approach has helped attract women to the field. “It’s perhaps a sign of the times that women’s representation in male-dominated industries is growing, and that’s very visible in our operations,” she said.

Finland has around 70 inland waterway operators employing roughly 1,500 people. The sector struggles with seasonal work demands, as many are unwilling to commit to full summers on the water.