Before 2022, RABN’s MV Marilie was one of many of its kind: a shipping vessel that transported regular bulk cargo. Today, the vessel hauls juice and juice concentrate from Belgium to the United Kingdom. Captain Einar Kotka and Second Officer Ada Laine share what it’s like to work on Europe’s only coastal orange juice carrier.
Captain Einar Kotka has been a part of RABN since the beginning, as he was the very first crew member on the shipping company’s roster. Kotka started his career at RABN in 2009, when he boarded the MV Nathalie as an Able Seaman.
For the past ten years, Kotka has worked as a captain on RABN’s vessels. Seven of these years have been spent on Marilie, so Kotka has seen the vessel’s transformation into a juice carrier.
“Marilie used to carry bulk cargo that produced so much dust during loading operations that we had to keep the doors and the windows tightly closed. Nowadays, instead of dust filling up your nose, you can smell oranges everywhere,” Kotka says.
Juice transportation requires a trained crew
Marilie is on long-term time charter to JuiSea Shipping, a collaboration between Trilobes and Refresco. JuiSea Shipping wanted to create a more sustainable transportation model for orange juice in Europe by reducing reliance on truck transportation.
JuiSea Shipping chose RABN as its partner because RABN had a suitable vessel, a willingness to develop a completely new concept, and a crew ready to learn.
“During the first year of sailing, we put in a lot of work to learn the best practices and smooth out the bumps that all new operations tend to have. Now, Marilie’s crew is highly trained and knows the onboard systems very well,” Kotka notes.
Marilie’s route from Ghent to Portland is quite different from the Northern shipping routes Kotka has previously sailed.
“The weather conditions in the English Channel might not always be ideal, but at least the work does not involve breaking ice from the deck,” he laughs. “All in all, our crew has been very satisfied with the route and the cooperation with JuiSea Shipping.”
Towards a career at sea
Second Officer Ada Laine has worked on the Marilie since November 2025. Laine’s career at sea began as a waiter’s assistant on a cruise ship, but she is currently completing her Maritime Management studies at Novia University of Applied Sciences.
“I originally ended up working at sea after being inspired by my aunt, and a close friend encouraged me to apply to maritime school. At one point, I thought that becoming an officer would mean I had achieved everything I wanted from this career, but my ambition has grown along the way. One of my long-term dreams is to sail in polar regions someday,” Laine says.
Laine’s responsibilities on Marilie include cargo loading and unloading watches together with the Chief Officer, as well as navigation watches shared between the Captain and the Chief Officer. Working on a juice vessel is in many ways similar to working on other vessels, but the cargo requires extra attention.
“The juice needs to be kept at a specific temperature during the voyage, and good hygiene during cargo handling is also very important to ensure that no bacteria enter the system.”
Life at sea suits Laine very well, and even longer work periods do not feel too demanding.
“We also get long vacations! In addition, the scenery is beautiful, and the people I work with are amazing. There is also a strong sense of community among colleagues. Even if people are otherwise very different, everyone shares the same passion, and that brings people together.”