Maritime Centre Vellamo, Maritime museum in Kotka, Finland.
Maritime Centre Vellamo is a museum in Kotka dedicated to shipping and maritime history, housed in a building shaped like ocean waves. The curved structure uses shiny sheet metal, frosted glass panels, and aluminum frames that echo water colors and movement.
The building opened in 2008 and brought multiple maritime museums together under one roof. It became the main place to learn about shipping, naval defense, and coastal heritage in the Kymenlaakso region.
The museum preserves stories of Finnish maritime life and shows how the sea has shaped communities along the coast. Exhibitions trace connections between people and water through fishing, trading, and seafaring traditions that remain important to local identity.
Visitors can eat at an on-site restaurant, browse the museum shop, or attend events in the auditorium during their visit. A library with thousands of books about maritime topics offers research materials and detailed information for those wanting to learn more.
During summer months, visitors can board three real ships moored next to the building, including a decommissioned icebreaker and a former lightship. These working vessels offer hands-on views of how crews operated these ships and what conditions were like on the water.
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