RMC said the steel-cutting ceremony for the fourth vessel coincided with the keel-laying of the third, whose production started in August last year. The second corvette is nearing completion of hull works, while the first, launched in May 2025, has entered the outfitting phase.
Mika Nieminen, CEO and President of RMC, said the company was satisfied with the progress achieved at the yard. “We are very pleased to now have all the multi-purpose corvettes of Pohjanmaa class under construction at the Rauma Shipyard,” he said, adding, “This is reflected in the progress we have made in the basic shipbuilding activities, in other words, hull construction.”
RMC said the Squadron 2020 project has a direct employment impact of about 3,600 person-years in Finland and involves the construction of four corvettes. The Pohjanmaa-class vessels are designed for year-round operation in all Baltic Sea conditions and are among the most capable ship types in the region.
Brigadier General Engineering Juha-Matti Ylitalo, Deputy Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, said recent milestones showed the project was advancing as planned. “The start of steel-cutting for the fourth vessel and the keel-laying of the third vessel are, once again, clear indications of the progress of the project and the capability of our marine industry,” he said.
RMC also confirmed that preparations are advancing for two icebreakers ordered by the United States Coast Guard at the end of 2025, with delivery scheduled for 2028. CEO Nieminen said, “We are expanding our expert organisation from 300 to about 400 employees, which will support our competency strategy,” noting the company’s national responsibility in delivering the project.
