Finnish vessel designer Foreship is targeting more German business by setting up a new company in Hamburg.
The naval architect and marine engineer said it will establish Foreship GmbH on 1 January.
It wants to develop closer ties with German owners, shipyards and other marine engineering companies to better service existing customers and attract new ones.
The German outfit will be led by managing director Olli Somerkallio, current head of machinery at Helsinki-based Foreship.
Foreship CEO Lauri Haavisto said the new German operation offers firm evidence of its plans to grow its existing cruise business, attract new customers and target additional ship types, in line with ambitions set out by new majority shareholder Vaaka Partners, which acquired 60% of Foreship's equity last month.
Foreship is a leader in cruiseship design, with three other offices in Finland, two in the US and one in Estonia.
Somerkallio said: “We believe Hamburg will be key in attracting new business from German clients to Foreship’s complete ship design, refit, project management and ship life-cycle service expertise.
“In addition, it will provide a focus for attracting talent from Germany's rich naval architecture and marine engineering talent pool to Foreship. We will also strengthen our ties with German universities to offer graduates an exciting and challenging career path.”
The new head of machinery will be the department's project manager Petri Heinanen.
