Keel Laying of Second Pohjanmaa-Class Multi-Role Corvette in Rauma

The keel of the second Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvette, part of the Squadron 2020 programme, was laid at Rauma shipyard on Thursday, 8 May 2025. The keel laying ceremony is a traditional and symbolically significant milestone in shipbuilding, marking the official start of hull assembly.

Construction of the second corvette began in October 2024. During the ceremony held in Rauma Marine Constructions’ (RMC) multi-purpose hall, the vessel’s keel block was placed on the building blocks, and traditional lucky coins were laid beneath it. In addition to RMC personnel, the ceremony was attended by representatives from the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, the Finnish Navy, weapons system supplier Saab, and the classification society Lloyd’s Register.

The keel of the first multi-role corvette was laid in April 2024, and its hull was completed in December the same year. The vessel is currently being prepared for launching. The Squadron 2020 project is scheduled for completion by 2029.

RMC and its subsidiary RMC Defence Oy are building a total of four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes for the Finnish Navy. The vessels are designed for year-round operations in the demanding and variable conditions of the Baltic Sea. Their capabilities include naval mine-laying, anti-submarine warfare, securing sea lines of communication, and sustained maritime presence.

Read more about the Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 project.