Two Norwegian naval architecture companies are coming together as NSK Ship Design has acquired the shares in Multi Maritime. This brings together two Norwegian designers with complementary experience and makes them together one of the country’s largest playersin the sector.
Multi Maritime’s strength is in ferries, passenger vessels and cargo ships, while NSK Ship Design has its main focus in aquaculture, fisheries and offshore vessels.
‘Customers are becoming larger and more international, and the demands for capacity and efficient deliveries are increasing. The design industry is also undergoing consolidation, and there are fewer players,’ said NSK Ship Design CEO Mats Nygaard Johnsen.
‘Multi Maritime has expertise and market positions that complement our own. The acquisition is therefore an important part of our growth strategy and desire to realise even more newbuildings.’
Multi Maritime will initially continue as a separate company with an office in Førde, in close collaboration with NSK Ship Design. The form of cooperation will be developed gradually. The acquisition also strengthens NSK’s presence in Western Norway, close to shipyards and shipping companies in the region.
Together, the companies gain broader expertise, greater capacity and access to Multi Maritime’s experience as a newbuilding designer on more than 100 vessels.
‘Our customers now have the support of a larger professional community. Together we can offer both broader expertise and greater capacity than before,’ said Multi Maritime CEO Morten Aune.
The acquisition also strengthens NSK’s geographical coverage within inspection services for vessels under 15 metres, due to become available throughout Norway.
‘Ultimately, it’s about creating more value for customers. Together, we will be better placed to follow customers from early project development and new construction to conversion and follow-up in operation,’ Mats Nygaard Johnsen said.
‘After many years as an owner, it has been important to find an industrial owner who can further develop Multi Maritime. NSK and Multi Maritime have complementary expertise and a common view of ship design,’ said Rolf Fiskerstrand, who has owned Multi Maritime since 2010.
‘At the same time, Fiskerstrand can concentrate its resources on the shipyard operations in Sula.’
