Sanna Nyholm & Luca Lindström

Sanna Nyholm followed in her father’s footsteps into the welding profession. After completing the Shipbuilding School’s (LRO) plate-welder course in 2008, she started working in the shipyard’s block production. Over nearly 20 years, Sanna has worked in a wide range of welding-related tasks at the shipyard. Since 2020, she has worked as a responsible supervisor in hull assembly.

– I lead a team of around 60 people together with my colleague. I still work closely with LRO. For example, I visit schools to introduce the company, and I recruit many people to our team from the plate-welder courses, Sanna says.

One of the employees Sanna has recruited is Luca Lindström. Luca first became familiar with the shipyard as an employee of a network company. Because he was interested in both the shipyard environment and welding, LRO’s training was a suitable choice for him. He graduated from the plate-welder course in April 2026 and has since worked as a welder in hull assembly at the building dock.

The paasi follows the work of new employees closely, gives feedback and encourages them. Things are reviewed together, and concrete instructions are given.

Luca and Sanna describe welding work in hull assembly as challenging, varied and rewarding. The work is physical, and especially when working at the building dock, the elements of nature are strongly present. Variety comes from the fact that a ship’s hull is a complex structure that does not stay the same from one day to the next. In hull assembly, employees work concretely on the ship itself, which means they can see the results of their own work even in the finished vessel.

– The best things about working as a welder are the variety and the fact that I get to work quite independently, Luca says of his work.

Younger employees receive the guidance they need for the job from more experienced professionals. The plate welder training includes a three-month production training period. During this period, a paasi – a shipbuilding professional with solid experience – guides the trainee step by step into the new work. The paasi continues to support the new employee even after graduation.

– The paasi follows the work of new employees closely, gives feedback and encourages them. Things are reviewed together, and concrete instructions are given. In challenging work, it is important that instructors are continuously present. A supervisor needs to understand that a younger employee is still learning. The student, in turn, needs to listen and understand the basic rules of working life and doing the job, Sanna describes.

Learning also goes the other way. Hull assembly is the youngest department at the shipyard, which Sanna sees as a very good thing. Younger professionals often look at work and ways of working from a different perspective than older employees. There is hardly any prejudice or resistance to change.

– New, enthusiastic shipbuilders are easy to lead. They are ready to develop their own work and the work of the whole department, Sanna says with praise.

Both Sanna and Luca speak highly of the training provided by LRO. For example, LRO’s ship plate-welder course and marine pipe and engineer fitter course are very comprehensive training programmes that focus specifically on shipbuilding. The courses introduce students not only to the details of the profession, but also to the entire world of shipbuilding. However, the skills gained from the courses are valuable outside the shipyard as well.

– The school is a really good path to the shipyard. I can definitely see myself continuing in this work in the future. I recommend LRO’s training programmes to anyone who is interested in shipbuilding and likes working with their hands, Luca says.