New multipurpose hall designated to house the construction of multi-role corvettes was inaugurated at Rauma shipyard

Today, Rauma shipyard celebrated the inauguration of the new multipurpose hall. Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) will be using the hall to build four multi-role corvettes for the Finnish Navy as part of the Squadron 2020 project. For security reasons, the vessels will be constructed inside the hall, which will be optimised for the construction of government vessels.

The construction of the hall was completed on schedule. Construction began in November 2021, and the cornerstone was laid in February 2022. The topping out was celebrated in September of the same year, and operation in the manufacturing areas began in December.

The hall is constructed by a real estate company owned by RMC and the City of Rauma. RMC will act as the hall’s long-time tenant. The head contractor of the construction project is SRV.

The finished hall is 186 metres long, 44 metres wide and 32 metres high. The gross capacity of the hall is 226,000 cubic metres, making it one of the largest industrial buildings in Rauma. Its total cost is approximately EUR 26 million.

“The Squadron 2020 project is extremely important for the shipyard, the maritime industry in Rauma, and the whole of Finland. It is wonderful that we can build these advanced vessels under good conditions in a multipurpose hall designed specifically for that purpose. We have already been able to utilise the hall in the production of steel blocks for the Tasmanian TT-Line Company’s car and passenger ferries. However, when the production of the multi-role corvettes begins at the end of the year, the hall will be freed up in its entirety for the use of the Squadron project,” says Mika Laurilehto, the interim CEO of RMC.

“With its own significant investment, the City of Rauma has demonstrated its commitment to developing the operating conditions of the Rauma Seaside Industry Park. The new multipurpose hall allows the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 vessels to be constructed in up-to-date and secure facilities. As the circumstances with security and collaboration have changed, a competitive shipyard area guarantees an even better opportunity for the building of various vessels for the Finnish Defence Forces and other government authorities. On behalf of the City of Rauma, I want to thank everyone involved in the multipurpose hall project for their excellent work and exemplary cooperation,” says Esko Poikela, Mayor of the City of Rauma.

“We are very grateful to the City of Rauma for their investment in the development of the shipyard area. The multipurpose hall will guarantee work for Rauma and the shipyard well into the future. The impact on employment of the construction of the multi-role corvettes is 3,600 person-years in total, comprising numerous shipbuilding professionals working in different roles. Even after the project has ended, the hall will enable the construction of various government vessels, such as icebreakers and other significant vessels, to continue in Rauma,” Laurilehto continues.

Construction of the multi-role corvettes begins at the end of 2023

 

The construction of the multi-role corvettes is set to begin already at the end of 2023.

At the moment, the basic design of the corvettes is near completion, and production planning for the engine and frame design has begun. For other parts, production planning will begin in March. All the main equipment for the vessels has been acquired.

In addition to the hall, RMC has invested significantly also in steel production for the Squadron 2020 project. The company is also planning to invest in a new wharf area in relation to the needs of the project.

The order book of RMC is approximately EUR 1,2 billion and extends all the way to the year 2028. In addition to the four multi-role corvettes, the order book also includes sister vessels for TT-Line Company. In order to successfully carry out these orders, the company has implemented a strategic programme to achieve long-term profitability and increase capacity. The aim of the programme is to clarify and make the current networked operating model more functional.