NSK Ship Design Acquires Norway's Multi Maritime, Creating a Naval Design Giant

Norwegian naval architecture firm NSK Ship Design has acquired Multi Maritime, another Norwegian company that was owned by Fiskerstrand Holding. The deal combines NSK's specialization in aquaculture, fishing and offshore vessels with Multi Maritime's track record in designing ferries, passenger vessels and cargo ships.

According to Splash 247, the company resulting from the merger will rank among Norway's largest ship design groups by revenue and number of designs delivered. The outlet reported that the combined revenue of both companies in 2025 was around NOK105 million (about US$11.1 million), of which NOK85 million corresponded to NSK and NOK20 million to Multi Maritime. Portal Portuario likewise noted that the deal creates one of the country's largest ship design groups by revenue and number of designs.

Multi Maritime was founded in 1983 and has since delivered designs for more than 100 vessels. Baird Maritime noted that since 2010 the firm has designed 45 ferries, five cargo vessels and one research vessel, 29 of which were fully electric ferries or passenger vessels, including the double-ended Ro-Pax ferry Vestrefjord, built by Sedef Shipyard for Boreal. Splash 247, meanwhile, reported that since 2010 the portfolio has included 45 ferries, seven passenger vessels and five cargo vessels, and that NSK currently has nine vessels under construction based on its designs.

NSK Ship Design CEO Mats Nygaard Johnsen noted that clients are increasingly large and international, that demand for capacity and efficient project execution is rising, and that the naval design industry is undergoing consolidation with fewer players in the market. Johnsen added that Multi Maritime brings experience and a complementary market position, and that the acquisition is a key step in NSK's growth strategy, including greater availability of support services for vessels in operation given the rising costs of newbuilds.

Rolf Fiskerstrand, CEO of Fiskerstrand Holding and owner of Multi Maritime since 2010, explained that the sale will allow the company to focus its resources on its shipyard business in Sula. Meanwhile, Multi Maritime will initially continue to operate as an independent company from its office in Førde, gradually collaborating with NSK, which, according to Portal Portuario, is also expanding its inspection services for vessels under 15 metres with nationwide coverage as a result of this deal.