The cornerstone of the multipurpose construction hall for the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 project was laid at Rauma shipyard – the hall will guarantee the security of the construction project
Rauma Marine Constructions is currently preparing to build ships for the Squadron 2020 project. The cornerstone for the new multipurpose construction hall, where the ships for the Finnish Defence Forces will be built, was laid 15 February at Rauma shipyard. The construction work for the hall was already started in 2021. The work has progressed quickly and on schedule. The hall will play an integral role in the construction of four multipurpose corvettes, which will be essential for Finnish maritime defence.
“The hall will guarantee our ability to build the vessels entirely indoors, where they will be protected from the eyes of outsiders. This project is extremely important for both the shipyard and Finland, and we want to ensure the security of construction work in every way possible. Nearly all big Finnish warships have been built in Rauma, so it is truly wonderful to continue this legacy with the Squadron 2020 project”, said CEO and President Jyrki Heinimaa.
Cooperation with the city is crucial
The hall is being built by a real estate company jointly owned by the City of Rauma and RMC. The city holds an 80 per cent share of the company. RMC will be a long-time tenant of the hall. The main contractor in the project is SRV.
Once finished, the hall will be 186 metres long, 44 metres wide and 32 metres tall. With a total volume of 226,000 cubic metres, the hall will be one of the biggest industrial buildings in Rauma. In total, the hall will cost around EUR 26 million.
“By participating in the construction project, the City of Rauma is demonstrating long-term commitment to the development of the shipyard. The city wants to set an example and thereby encourage new investments in the shipyard and the capacity development of the operators in the shipyard. The maritime industry and especially RMC’s shipbuilding are an important part of the local identity. Our participation will also result in a special kind of pride for every vessel completed at the shipyard”, said Mayor of Rauma Esko Poikela.
“We are extremely happy that our successful collaboration with the City of Rauma enables the construction of the hall and its long-term usage by RMC. The hall will guarantee employment for Rauma and the shipyard for years to come. Building the Squadron 2020 vessels alone will have an employment impact of 3,600 person-years in total, and even after this project, the hall will enable the construction of various governmental and other notable vessels at Rauma”, Jyrki Heinimaa states.
“It is a pleasure to be part of a project that will significantly advance Finnish shipbuilding. The project will take into account the halls’ entire lifecycle, energy efficiency and future operational needs as well as the user requirements and overall economic factors. Close cooperation will guarantee a successful outcome”, said Lari Mallius, Area Director at SRV.
A billion-euro order book will guarantee investments into the future
An entirely Finnish-owned company, RMC has succeeded at growing its order book significantly in the past few years and is now past a billion euros. Rauma shipyard has a long history of building governmental vessels. However, in recent years the shipyard has also hosted the building of several commercial ships with pioneering technology, such as the internationally awarded car and passenger ferry that started operating between Vaasa, Finland, and Umeå, Sweden, last autumn.
RMC is continuously developing its operations and making further investments into the shipyard. Besides the new hall, RMC has made significant investments for example into steel production for the Squadron 2020 project. Steelwork for the prototype section of the vessels is already underway. The shipyard is facing a very busy spring as the finishing of Tallink’s new car and passenger ferry is also underway. Moreover, the production of two vessels for Tasmanian TT-Line will start in March.