RINA acquires Foreship and strengthens its leadership in naval engineering consultancy

The multinational group RINA, active in engineering consultancy, inspection, and certification services, has announced the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Foreship, a Finnish company with strong international positioning in the field of naval engineering and sustainable maritime solutions.

The deal represents a strategic step towards consolidating RINA’s presence in Northern Europe and expanding its offering of advanced consultancy services, particularly in ship design, complex retrofits, energy efficiency, and the introduction of new fuels.

A globally recognized player

Headquartered in Helsinki, Foreship generated a turnover of €15.2 million in 2024 and employs over 90 professionals across eight global locations, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Estonia. The company is renowned for its expertise in cruise ship design, energy optimisation, and sustainable engineering. Its know-how complements RINA Consulting’s existing technical capabilities, which will now incorporate Foreship’s operations.

A strategic operation to support growth

“Foreship brings RINA distinctive expertise, highly valued by clients and based on extensive experience in naval architecture. These skills are perfectly aligned with our service portfolio. Together, we will deliver even greater value to the global maritime industry, focusing on sustainability, digital innovation, and lifecycle services for ships,” said Ugo Salerno, Executive Chairman of RINA.

Similarly, Carlo Luzzatto, CEO and General Manager of RINA, stated: “The acquisition of Foreship fits into our strategy to strengthen our leadership in maritime consultancy. Foreship’s independent positioning and its international reputation, particularly among leading cruise lines and shipowners, are valuable assets that RINA intends to preserve and enhance.”

Continuity and growth for Foreship

“Our ambition,” said Lauri Haavisto, CEO of Foreship, “is to become a leader in sustainable passenger ship conversions, newbuild consultancy, and related services. Becoming part of a global group like RINA will accelerate our development, enrich our expertise, and allow us to maintain the close and personal client relationships that we consider fundamental.”

Advisory support for the transaction

Lazard acted as financial advisor to RINA. Bain & Company supported the commercial due diligence, while PwC handled financial and tax due diligence. Borenius Attorneys served as legal counsel for the transaction.

With this acquisition, RINA consolidates its position as a technical partner of reference in the naval sector, expanding its expertise and geographical reach in an international scenario increasingly driven by sustainable, digital, and technologically advanced solutions.

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