The Propeller Club of Norway and Windjammer will bring the maritime community together to raise funds for the completion of the new Christian Radich Windjammer centre on 22 October 2026.

Located in Skur 32 on the west side of Oslo’s harbour, the new centre will be a permanent home to Windjammer, a programme offering young people who have left school or struggled to find employment make a fresh start. Windjammer participants serve aboard the S.S. Christian Radich for four weeks. On board, they learn basic seamanship, responsibility, and a sense of community. At the same time, they experience a sense of achievement, build self-confidence, and receive support to take the next step toward education or employment.

Established in 2018, more than 1200 young people have crewed aboard the S.S. Christian Radich and eight out of 10 report that experience helped them get back on track. The new Windjammer centre will not only help those who have completed a cruise to connect their experience at sea with the day-to-day realities of life on shore but help build community among the programme’s growing alumnae base.

According to Hasse Lindmo, Director of the Christian Radich Foundation, the building was made available to the organisation by the Port of Oslo. “With spectacular views of Oslo harbour, it’s a fantastic space but we need funds to complete the interior,” he says. “Our hope is to make it a shore-based extension of the ship itself, a permanent gathering place for both new and former Windjammers.”

Windjammer Director Maren Harlem says the new space will play an important role in strengthening the programme. “Of course, it will house our offices and be used to train new participants and volunteers before they go aboard, but we also see it will help us attract new recruits and become a gathering place for Windjammer alumnae to seek additional counselling, connect with their former crewmembers and share their life-changing experiences with other young people,” she says. “Like the S. S. Christian Radich itself, we see it as a space of limitless possibilities.”

Both Lindmo and Harlem hope the new centre will also help connect the Christian Radich Foundation and the Windjammer programme more closely to Oslo’s thriving maritime community.

“Many Norwegian seafarers began their careers aboard the S.S. Christian Radich, and  several former Windjammer participants have gone on to work in the maritime sector,” says Lindmo. “For us, helping to build awareness about the opportunities available to young people in this dynamic industry, where recruiting top talent is often a challenge, is part of our mission. Therefore, the centre will also be open to the industry to organize recruiting events, celebrate milestones and organise networking gatherings to bring the industry together.”

Lindmo and Harlem wish to thank the Norwegian Propeller Club and main sponsors DNK (Den Norske Krigsforsikring for Skib) Nordic Marine Solutions, Blue-C and a network of volunteers for their support in arranging the event.

“We look forward to bringing the maritime community to the event on October 22, where we will share more information on how you or your company can make a direct impact on the lives of young people,” says Harlem. “Welcome aboard!”