Rauma Marine Constructions marks more milestones in corvette program

Written by Nick Blenkey

Keel for third Squadron 2020 Pohjanmaa class corvette has now been laid. [Photo: RMC]

Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), the Finnish shipyard tapped to play a critical role in U.S. Arctic Security Cutter icebreaker program, reports a strong start to 2026. Yesterday it marked major milestonea in Finland’s Squadron 2020 Pohjanmaa class corvette project ,with the start of production of the fourth multi-purpose corvette and the keel-laying of the third All four multi-purpose corvettes in the class are now simultaneously under construction at the shipyard. Meantime, says RMC, preparations are in full swing for the production of the two icebreakers ordered by the U.S.

VIDEO: Rauma Shipyard launches first Squadron 2020 corvette

Production of the final Pohjanmaa class vessel was launched with a steel cutting ceremony that coincided with the keel-laying of the third corvette, production of which started last August. The second corvette under construction is nearing the completion of hull works, while the first, which was launched in May 2025, has reached the outfitting stage.

“We are very pleased to now have all the multi-purpose corvettes of Pohjanmaa class under construction at the Rauma Shipyard,” says Mika Nieminen, RMC’s CEO and president. “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.”

Designed for year-round operation in all conditions encountered in the Baltic Sea,. the Pohjanmaa class is one the most capable vessel types in the Baltic region. The direct employment impact of the Squadron 2020 project is about 3,600 person-years in Finland.

Meantime, the U.S. icebreaker contract awarded at the end of 2025 is alreadt proceeding towards production start. For RMC, the projected direct employment impact of the two icebreakers is about 2,000 person-years, and the total impact is expected to be about 5,000 person-years. The icebreakers will be delivered in 2028 for operation in the harshest marine environments in the world. The corvette and icebreaker projects are temporally overlapping.

Main data on multi-role corvettes: