The Finnish Border Guard’s new offshore patrol vessel, built by Meyer Turku, was christened

The construction of the Finnish Border Guard’s two multipurpose offshore patrol vessels, ordered from Meyer Turku, has proceeded to the traditional christening ceremony carried out in equipping stage. On Friday 22 August 2025, the first vessel was christened Karhu. The christening was carried out by the vessel’s godmother, Mrs Suzanne Innes-Stubb.

The ceremony took place in the shipyard Uudenmaan Työvene, where the vessel will be equipped and delivered to its owner in winter 2026. Minister of the Interior, Mari Rantanen, and the Chief of the Finnish Border Guard, Vice Admiral Markku Hassinen, attended the event as representants of the customer, while the CEO of Meyer Turku, Casimir Lindholm, and the CEO of Uudenkaupungin Työvene, Juha Granqvist, represented the supplier.  

In accordance with the shipbuilding traditions, the godmother gave a speech. The actual christening was carried out after the speech by smashing a bottle of champagne against the ship. 

‘Our project consisting of two vessels has reached a significant stage as the first vessel has now been christened. Karhu is a concrete evidence of Meyer Turku’s ability to lead a shipbuilding project, from start to finish, in the facilities of our partner shipyards, while still meeting our own high-quality requirements. Today, we celebrate the fact that the first of these two offshore patrol vessels has reached its final form and will be ready to serve the Finnish Border Guard in its various and challenging duties’, says the CEO of Meyer Turku, Casimir Lindholm. 

‘The project has reached an important stage, as the first vessel was christened. The new multipurpose offshore patrol vessels are needed in the Finnish security environment that has gone through a fundamental change. They will further Finland’s maritime safety significantly. Finns can continue to rely on the Finnish Border Guard’s preparedness and capability in the future as well’, the Chief of the Finnish Border Guard, Vice Admiral Markku Hassinen, states. 

In recent years, significant changes have occurred in both the Finnish and the global safety environment, and these are fundamental and long-lasting. The change has also posed new and even more demanding challenges to actors within the security field: we must be able to swiftly and effectively react and respond to new challenges. 

The Finnish Border Guard’s operational capability in the open sea is, for a significant part, based on continuous operation and preparedness of the multifunctional offshore patrol vessels. The new low-emission and energy-efficient offshore patrol vessels will be at sea for approximately 330 days of the year. The order for two multipurpose offshore patrol vessels is the most extensive individual investment in the Finnish Border Guard’s history.