The Finnish Border Guard’s second multipurpose offshore patrol vessel, Valpas, has been christened at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, marking a milestone in the construction program.
The vessel was christened by its godmother, Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen, on October 30, 2026. The ceremony was held at the Uusikaupunki shipyard, where Meyer Turku is carrying out the vessel’s outfitting. The Finnish Border Guard was represented by its Deputy Chief, Rear Admiral Tom Hanén, and Meyer Turku by Deputy CEO Ville Saksi.
In accordance with shipbuilding tradition, the vessel’s godmother gave a speech. Following the speech, the vessel was christened traditionally by breaking a bottle of champagne against its hull.
“Offshore patrol vessels are highly complex multipurpose vessels requiring extensive expertise and close cooperation between the customer and the entire project network. The christening of the second vessel marks an important milestone in the project. Our work continues with determination to deliver vessels that meet the Finnish Border Guard’s high requirements and serve Finland’s maritime security well into the future” said Saksi.
“The Finnish Border Guard’s offshore patrol vessel project has reached an important milestone now that the second vessel has also been christened. The new vessels will enter service during the coming year. Our offshore patrol vessel fleet will be modern and harmonised once the operational systems of the patrol vessel Turva have also been upgraded. Finland’s ability to respond to the challenges of the security environment at sea will be significantly enhanced,” commented Vice Admiral Markku Hassinen, Chief of the Finnish Border Guard.
The two-vessel order represents the largest single investment in the Finnish Border Guard’s history. The vessels are intended to expand its maritime operational capabilities and readiness. The first vessel, Karhu, is scheduled for completion in summer 2027, while Valpas is expected to be completed by the end of the same year.
The Finnish Border Guard’s operational capability at sea relies to a significant extent on the continuous operation and readiness of its multipurpose offshore patrol vessels. The new low-emission and energy-efficient offshore patrol vessels will operate at sea for approximately 330 days a year.
To remind, the first vessel, Karhu, was christened in August last year.