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Finland

Rauma, Finland - The Rauma shipyard celebrated a significant milestone in the construction of the first multi-purpose corvette for the Squadron 2020 project on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The traditional keel laying ceremony marked the commencement of the vessel's construction phase.

This milestone signifies a pivotal moment in the development of the Pohjanmaa-class multi-purpose corvettes, as the first block was laid on the shipyard's building bucks. The vessel will now take shape around this foundational keel block, with subsequent blocks being connected to one another.

Construction progress has remained on schedule since the project commenced in late October 2023. The keel laying ceremony, steeped in maritime tradition, included the placement of ceremonial keel coins beneath the keel.

Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) and its subsidiary, RMC Defence Oy, are tasked with the construction of four Pohjanmaa-class multi-purpose corvettes designed to operate effectively in the Baltic Sea's varied conditions. These corvettes will fulfill a range of roles throughout the year, including mine laying, anti-submarine operations, and maritime security.

The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command oversees the commissioning of the vessels, with the entire Squadron 2020 project slated for completion by 2029.