Finland starts production of fourth Pohjanmaa-class corvette

The Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) began production of the fourth Pohjanmaa-class multi-purpose corvette and laid the keel for the third vessel at its Rauma shipyard on January 14, confirming that all four ships in the Squadron 2020 program are now under construction.

According to RMC, the steel-cutting ceremony officially launched production of the fourth corvette, while the keel-laying event marked the next major stage for the third ship. The company said the second vessel is nearing the end of hull work, and the first corvette, launched in May 2025, has now reached the outfitting phase.

As noted by the company, “We are very pleased to now have all the multi-purpose corvettes of Pohjanmaa class under construction at the Rauma Shipyard. We have industrialised our procedures and construction processes to meet the requirements of our clients’ demanding projects. This is reflected in the progress we have made in the basic shipbuilding activities, in other words, hull construction.” The statement was attributed to CEO and President Mika Nieminen.

The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command also confirmed the project’s progress. Brigadier General Engineering Juha-Matti Ylitalo said, “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, further strengthened also by the icebreaker projects that are about to start.”

The Pohjanmaa class is designed for year-round operation in Baltic Sea conditions. The vessels measure 117 meters in length, with a beam of 16.5 meters, a draught of five meters, and a crew of approximately 70. The Squadron 2020 program is projected to generate about 3,600 person-years of employment in Finland during construction.

RMC said preparations are also underway for the two U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers awarded at the end of 2025, which are scheduled for delivery in 2028. The shipbuilder estimates the icebreaker program will generate about 2,000 direct person-years of employment and up to 5,000 person-years when including indirect effects. Production of the icebreakers will overlap with the corvette program.

Finnish Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen stated, “Squadron 2020 is a strategic project for Finland, and the icebreaker project opens a whole new dimension for our marine industry. RMC has become a leading supplier of government vessels and military vessels in Finland. Together the projects boost economic activity significantly, particularly in Rauma region and Satakunta.”

RMC said it is expanding its expert workforce from 300 to approximately 400 employees to support increased demand, strengthen steel production capability, and create an independent project organization for the icebreaker program.