Naval architect and marine engineering company Foreship has created a wholly owned subsidiary located in Tallinn to strengthen ties with shipowners, shipyards and marine equipment suppliers in Estonia, and support the development of locally based design skills.

Foreship OÜ will commence operations on 1st October from its own premises, located in the brand new Öpik building within sight of Tallinn Airport, Lake Ülemiste and Tallinn Old Town.

The new company, which is 100%-held by Helsinki-based Foreship Ltd, will be headed by Estonian national and structural engineer Sven Varushkin. Initially, Varushkin will be joined by two further Estonian structural engineers, transferred from Foreship’s Finnish headquarters, but Foreship Ltd Managing Director Lauri Haavisto sees the number of locally employed specialists expanding to between 7 and 8 within a year.

“The Estonian Maritime cluster is vibrant and growing,” says Haavisto. “The launch of Foreship OÜ demonstrates our commitment to the newbuild ship design and retrofit needs of a distinct and significant group of Baltic ferry owners, workboat builders and repair yards.”

Haavisto adds that a number of Estonian graduates who had studied naval architecture and structural engineering at the University of Tallinn had moved on to MSc studies at Helsinki’s Aalto University, before finding a post with Foreship. “We are also delighted to establish Foreship OÜ as a way of attracting more of the brightest and best from Estonia’s naval architecture community to Foreship,” he says.

Foreship’s roster of consultancy service ranges from concept to detailed design for newbuilding and conversion projects. The company is the market leader in cruise ship design and conversion, while its expertise extends to the ferry, cargo ship and offshore sectors. It offers specific design solutions to enhance ship efficiency, safety and marine environmental performance.

The new operation in Tallinn will be working closely with existing Foreship Group offices in Finland and Miami, but Mr Haavisto says that Foreship OÜ would also be tasked with expanding group activities inside Estonia.

Tags: Foreship