SaunaScape

The HMS Carlskrona at its home port

The San Jose Mercury News earlier this week published a profile of life aboard the HMS Carlskrona – A Swedish warship currently deployed off the coast of Somalia to help in the battle against the pirates there.

One of the facilities available for the crew to relax in their off-duty hours is the ship’s onboard sauna:

Taking a steam together is an essential way of getting to know someone in much of Scandinavia, said Mika Raunu, a sailor in the Finnish navy. It’s in the same tradition of Scandinavian egalitarianism that sees officers sharing rooms with lower-ranking sailors.

It also has led to a few cultural misunderstandings.

Lt. Cmdr. Carl Sjostrand told of a Swedish captain who invited a U.S. admiral to meet his senior officers after a formal ship’s dinner. The American was led down to the sauna in full dress uniform—only to end up shaking hands with a line of sweaty, smiling and naked Swedish sailors.

Like all facilities, the saunas are used by both men and women, and the Swedish military does not segregate living quarters or bathrooms.

Saunas, massages help Swedish sailors hunt pirates – The San Jose Mercury News

Images by Xiziz on Wikimedia Commons (boat) and Matti Mattilla on Flickr (letters)

[caption id="attachment_350" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The HMS Carlskrona at its home port"][/caption] The San Jose Mercury News earlier this week published a profile of life aboard the HMS Carlskrona - A Swedish warship currently deployed off the coast of Somalia to help in the battle against the pirates there. One of the facilities available for the crew to relax in their off-duty hours is the ship's onboard sauna: Taking a steam together is an essential way of getting to know someone in much of Scandinavia, said Mika Raunu, a sailor in the Finnish navy. It's in the same tradition of Scandinavian egalitarianism that sees officers sharing rooms with lower-ranking sailors. It also has led to a few cultural misunderstandings. Lt. Cmdr. Carl Sjostrand told of a Swedish captain who invited a U.S. admiral to meet his senior officers after a formal ship's dinner. The American was led down to the sauna in full dress uniform—only to end up shaking hands with a line of sweaty, smiling and naked Swedish sailors. Like all facilities, the saunas are used by both men and women, and the Swedish military does not segregate living quarters or bathrooms. Saunas, massages help Swedish sailors hunt pirates - The San Jose Mercury News Images by Xiziz on Wikimedia Commons (boat) and Matti Mattilla on Flickr (letters)