Keel of Finnish Navy corvette laid at RMC

A keel-laying ceremony for a Squadron 2020 multi-role corvette at Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has marked the beginning of the build process of a series of four Pohjoanmaa-class vessels for the Finnish Navy.

The multi-role 117m-long corvettes are surface combatants designed to undertake a series of naval operations at sea all year round. The 26-knot ships are designed to operate in the Baltic Sea, where ice conditions prevail in winter and temperatures fall way below zero. They have capacity for a crew of 70 persons.

The sensitive nature of the project meant that guests at the ceremony were limited. This is also the reason that the corvettes are being built under cover in a construction hall.

Those in attendance included representatives of the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, the Finnish Navy, Lloyd’s Register, the ten-year-old shipyard’s management, and key employees who will work on the project. The Squadron 2020 programme will generate 3,600 person-years of work, RMC said.

“This day celebrates the shared work of the entire shipyard,” declared project director, Timo Ståhlhammar. “The ship, today only a keel, can be seen as a symbol representing the commitment our shipyard and personnel have towards national defence. Our work has required smooth, extensive, and open collaboration between the ordering party and all those connected to the project. The collaboration we have achieved is an asset that will ensure a successful outcome.”

Prior to the setting up of RMC, the yard in Rauma was operated by STX Finland. Over the years, it has built various naval vessels, including four Hamina-class fast-attack craft, two Hämeenmaa-class minelayers, four Rauma-class missile boats, and the hovercraft ITA Tuuli. A number of icebreakers and other specialised vessels have also been built there.