AWARDS 2024 | Best Medium TSHD – Ursa – Tyovene
Combining the talents of a Finnish shipyard and Polish Government owner, this ultra-modern and highly efficient shallow water dredger is a truly multinational effort.
A complex arrangement, perhaps, but the final result is impressive in every way. Functional and innovative.
"Ursa is highly tailor-made design," Juha Granqvist, Työvene Managing Director, told Baird Maritime. "For example, it can operate in very shallow waters and pass underneath low bridges just to mention a few of our customer's unique requirements.
"As there was no similar design previously available, we created something completely new to meet the customers’ expectations.
Granqvist explained that it partnered with a number of Dutch companies for the various phases including ship design and the installation of the dredging equipment and automation systems.
"It was still a learning curve for us. The biggest challenges, however, were not technical but commercial, as the contract was awarded just prior to the outbreak of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine hostilities and before we had contracts with our suppliers in place."
Granqvist said that Työvene was able to increase both its turnover and profitability in 2024 compared to 2023. He explained that the company currently has a very strong orderbook and there will be significant growth in the coming years.
When asked about current trends in shipbuilding, Granqvist said demand for "greener" solutions is increasing, while some projects have begun to address cybersecurity requirements.
"We are quite new to building dredgers, and while we try to keep pace with the market, we see potential in following what bigger companies are doing," he told Baird Maritime. "However, after we delivered Ursa last year, we began seeing an increase in project enquiries for dredgers in the small- and medium-size ranges."
In Granqvist's view, the Scandinavian workboat industry has tremendous potential for growth in the the defence sector due to the geopolitical situation, particularly in Europe.
The potential is not strictly in the arms and armaments business but in "grey" products such as supply and transport vessels used by different countries' armed forces.
"Another market that is becoming increasingly important is offshore wind, as well as renewable energies in general," said Granqvist. "The growing number of offshore wind farms being built will require service vessels and some of these wind farms' specific requirements, especially in the case of those in the Baltic Sea, call for tailor-made solutions.
"With the aid of the Finnish Government's export credit agency, we can provide attractive packages for these and other niche markets."
For a list of the 2024 "Best Of" award winners, please click here.
