President Halonen takes delivery of new yacht

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President Tarja Halonen and her husband Dr Pentti Arajärvi took delivery of a new presidential yacht, officially named Kultaranta VIII, from a shipyard in Uusikaupunki on Monday.
      The custom-made 19-metre vessel is to replace the old Kultaranta VII, which has served Finnish presidents for some 25 years.
      ”There is an emotional connection between the boat and me. It is sad to leave a partner”, said President Halonen.
     
The President had hoped that the new vessel would represent Finnish workmanship, being dignified as well as safe for even the most prestigious guests.
      The interior design of the approximately EUR 2 million yacht could be described as simple - which is appropriate to a Scandinavian Lutheran republic - unless all the crystal chandeliers and gold-plated fittings and decorations are in the sleeping cabins or toilet facilities, which none of the members of the media were permitted to enter.
     
The vessel can accommodate 18 passengers and has a crew of two.
      The hull is of aluminium, and the boat is powered by four 435 hp engines.
      The permanent crew-members are taken from the Finnish Navy, and the Navy is also responsible for the upkeep of the Presidential Yacht.
     
The boat has plenty of wood inside, while the colouring materials are blue and white, but the outside of the vessel is grey, giving rather a military-like impression.
      ”The idea was that the Finnish archipelago would serve as the only decoration element”, explained industrial designer and architect Jarkko Jämsén.
      Kultaranta VIII will carry the president and her guests mainly in the Naantali area. However, state visitors are unlikely to be seen on board the yacht this summer.
      The presidential yachts carry the name of the president’s summer residence in Naantali.
      Halonen and her husband moved to Naantali for the summer season at the weekend.


Links:
  The President of the Republic of Finland
  Kultaranta, the President´s summer residence
  Työvene Oy/Uki Workboat, the makers of the new vessel

Helsingin Sanomat