Finland: Keel laid for second Pohjanmaa-class corvette

The keel for the Finnish Navy’s second Pohjanmaa-class corvette in the Squadron 2020 Project was laid at the Rauma Shipyard on May 8, 2025.

The traditional keel laying ceremony is a celebration of the start moment of the vessel’s construction – it starts the actual hull assembly phase.

The cradled keel section was lowered on building blocks in the multipurpose hall which serves as the building site for the vessel.

Present in the ceremony were representatives from the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, the Finnish Navy, and Saab, which supplies the weapon systems, as well as from classification society Lloyd’s Register and the personnel of Rauma Marine Constructions Oy (RMC).

According to RMC, the production of the second corvette was started eight weeks ahead of schedule, and the overall goals set for the project have been achieved as planned.

RMC is building a total of four multi-purpose corvettes of the Pohjanmaa class for the Finnish Navy. The vessels are designed for year-round operation in all conditions encountered in the Baltic Sea.

The 117-meter-long corvettes will be constructed in a new multipurpose hall that has been built specifically for this project. They have a width of 16 meters, a draft of 5 meters, and are capable of traveling at 26 knots.

They are also capable of laying navy mines, performing defense actions against surface vessels, submarines, and various airborne targets, and conducting maritime operations. In addition to domestic operations, the vessels can be used in crisis management measures and as part of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces.

The hull of the first vessel was completed in December 2024, and at present, it is being readied for launching. The production of the second vessel began in October 2024.