Voyage of the Wiima

The Korean War 1950-1953

Civilians fleeing from battle. National Archives 520796, USA.

The Korean War was fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953. The North was supported by socialist countries, mainly by the Soviet Union and China. The strongest allies of the South were the USA and the UK. South Korea’s allies blockaded the export to China of such war provisions as weapons and fuel. The Korean War claimed an estimated 2 million victims, and in its aftermath, Korea is still divided into the mutually hostile states of North Korea and South Korea.

 

 

The Wiima

Rauma Maritime Museum / Hannu-Matti Kaitila

The Wiima was a Finnish tanker owned by Wihuri Company. It was built in the Netherlands in 1931. Its original name was the Mijdrecht. Suomen Tankkilaiva Oy purchased the vessel in 1951. 
Engine power:  3330 hp
Tonnage:  7717.12 brt / 4037.79 nrt
Length: 139.13 m
Width: 17.92 m
Draught:  8.32 m
Dead weight:  11040 t
Speed:  11.5 kn

 

 

Ilmari Merimaa

Jouko Merimaa's archive

Ilmari Merimaa was a captain from Rauma and Master of the Wiima in 1953. He was under much pressure trying to look after his vessel and the welfare and safety of his crew. The photo was probably taken on the voyage from Singapore back to Finland, when the atmosphere was already relaxed. Ilmari Merimaa was a talented musician who played several instruments.

 

 

Jouko Merimaa

Jouko Merimaa's archive

Jouko Merimaa is Ilmari Merimaa's son. He was 8 years old in 1953. The photo is from the summer of 1952.

 

 

January - February 1953

Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat 5.2.1953

In January-February 1953, the Wiima sailed from Constanța, Romania, to China, carrying kerosene.  The US Ambassador to Finland, Jack McFall, contacted President Paasikivi asking him to prevent the voyage. Paasikivi replied that he could not, as the Wiima was under private ownership and the government had no authority there.

“Father made a lot of long voyages on the tanker, to South America, the Middle East, the Black Sea, when they carried oil. He could be away almost a year sometimes. That was nothing especial; we couldn’t know what that voyage would be like.” - Jouko Merimaa

 

 

The Wiima arrived in Singapore

Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat 12.2.1953

11.2.1953 The Wiima arrived in Singapore, then a British colony. British authorities prevented the Wiima from continuing her voyage and placed men-of-war to guard her. The Navy of the Republic of China in Taiwan threatened to sink the Wiima, if it endeavoured to proceed to Mainland China.

 

 

Headlines

The Strait Times, Singapore (vas., yllä) , Singapore Standard (oik. alla)

Singaporelaisten lehtien uutisotsikoita Wiiman myyntiä koskevista huhuista.

 

 

Cartoonist Kari Suomalainen 8.2.1953

Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat 8.2.1953

The Chinese Tray

“Probably he hasn't got a single friend in a strange land, but as a Chinese nun expressed it - Not to care for anybody in particular is having everybody as one's friend.”
Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living (On Going About)

Cartoonist Kari Suomalainen's view. Antti Wihuri steers the Wiima depicted as a Chinese sailing boat on the back of dragon Mao Zedong; the USA, the UK and the president of Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek, watch the proceedings as birds of prey. Antti Wihuri probably gained no new friends in the Wiima case, but the voyage turned out profitable for his company Suomen Tankkilaiva Oy.

 

 

Spring 1953

Newspaper Satakunnan Kansa 14.2.1953

From February to May 1953, the Wiima stayed in Singapore, and the British authorities prevented her from leaving. Negotiations between diplomats and the owners took place behind the scene. Various rumours about the Wiima's destiny went about: now she was leaving for China convoyed by Chinese men-of-war, now she and her cargo were being sold in Singapore.

“I knew something weird was taking place; I went to school and everybody asked about my dad, even the teachers did, and I told them he would come home eventually. Mother sometimes phoned to newspapers and wanted them to correct their false news.” - Jouko Merimaa

 

 

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Archives 520796, USA.

Dwight D. Eisenhower became President of the United States during the Korean War on 20.1.1953. He maintained hard-line policies toward North Korea, China and the Soviet Union, and he wanted the United States to exert pressure on Finland in the Wiima case.

 

 

Juho Kusti Paasikivi

The Finnish Heritage Agency, Historical Picture Collection, HK19650812:139 (CC BY 4.0)

Juho Kusti Paasikivi was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. He wanted to improve Finland’s international status, for instance by promoting its membership in the UNO. His approach was to keep Finland neutral in the controversies between the super powers, provoking neither the Soviet Union nor the United States. The Wiima case did not promote his policy at all.

 

 

Antti Wihuri

The Finnish Heritage Agency, Historical Picture Collection, HK19870106:333 (CC BY 4.0)

Antti Wihuri was the Director and main owner of Suomen Tankkilaiva Oy, which owned the Wiima. He was a capable businessman; the US Ambassador to Finland, Jack McFall, considered Wihuri the toughest negotiator he ever encountered during his career.

 

 

Winston Churchill

Yousuf Karsh. Library and Archives Canada, e01075164

Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War 1940–1945 and again 1951–1955. He took an active role in the Wiima case and personally advised the British administration in Singapore to slow down the Wiima's voyage as much as possible. This also served to emphasize to the USA that the United Kingdom was serious about controlling the blockade of trade.

 

 

Mao Zedong

The Finnish Heritage Agency, Ethnographic Collection VKK731:155, CC BY 4.0 

Mao Zedong was the leader of the People's Republic of China, who supported North Korea.

 

 

Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang Kai-shek in a World War II poster. National Archives 44-PF-32, USA

Chiang Kai-shek was President of the Republic of China in Taiwan. He considered himself as the legal leader of entire China and as the head of the refugee government. He took a hostile attitude to the People’s Republic of China and to North Korea. The Taiwanese Navy threatened to sink the Wiima, if she attempted to proceed from Singapore to China.

 

 

  • News about Wiima’s master Ilmari Merimaa being fined in Singapore, because of forbidden radio contact with Finland. The Strait Times, Singapore.

Under strict control

News about Wiima's master Ilmari Merimaa being fined in Singapore, because of forbidden radio contact with Finland, The Strait Times, Singapore

In the spring of1953, the prolonged situation became nerve-racking for Ilmari Merimaa and his crew, as the future was fully unknown. A further burden was the difficulty of procuring food and other supplies. The tanker was under strict control: Ilmari Merimaa was fined for contacting Finland by radio without permission. The mood was understandably low, and at least part of the crew wanted to leave the ship and return home.

“Mother was at home; she had no wages and we run out of money. Father telegraphed money to Rauma post office. One time, the Postmistress said you can't have the money without your husband's warrant, although she knew fully well that he was in Singapore. Mother went out, wrote a warrant with father's name on it – and got the money. It was a legal offence, forged warrant, but my father wouldn't have minded.” - Jouko Merimaa

 

 

An article in a Finnish journal

An article on the Wiima, including interviews with the crew in Singapore, published in an unknown Finnish journal.

 

 

The cargo was sold

News of the cargo being transferred to the Cahaba. The Strait Times, Singapore.

29.4.1953 Antti Wihuri sold the Wiima's cargo to the United States of America. The purchase price was 500,000 USD (in 2021 money, about 4.9 million USD or 4.3 million €). The Wiima's protracted voyage was very profitable for Suomen Tankkilaiva Oy in the end. The kerosene was transferred from the Wiima to US naval tanker the Cahaba, and the Wiima started for home.

 

 

The return home

News of the Wiima's return home. It mentions Ensio Tiira, a Finn who escaped from the French Foreign Legion in Indochina; he travelled home from Singapore on board the Wiima. Newspaper Keskipohjanmaa 12.7.1953. 

The Wiima arrived at Kokkola on 11.7.1953. The press met the tanker who had been in the headlines for over six months. The crew came home now, but Ilmari Merimaa was ill and never fully recovered from the strain of the strenuous voyage.

“Father fell ill during the voyage. He made no long voyages any more, but took government jobs: winters on ice breakers and summers on surveying ships. Maybe they found jobs for him because of the Wiima case. His health was weak and kept fading, and he was often on sick leave. He instructed me to find a more peaceful profession.”  - Jouko Merimaa

 

All press cuttings from Jouko Merimaa's archive