When Railotech acquired its long-term design partner Bluetech Finland in 2025, it marked more than a strategic response to the growing global demand for icebreakers. It brought together two companies with complementary expertise and a common belief in innovative engineering.
Bluetech Finland was founded in 2013 by a small group of naval architects with an ambitious goal: to develop the world’s most energy-efficient bulk carrier. Mikko Hakulinen, today the director of engineering, joined the company that same year as a summer trainee.
The concept became a success, but as global markets shifted and uncertainty grew, the company made a strategic decision to broaden its focus. What began as a single-product venture evolved into a full-service ship design office – capable of supporting complex projects across multiple vessel types.
A design house with global reach
Over the past decade, Bluetech has grown into an international organisation of about 100 professionals, operating from offices in Finland, Vietnam, and India. The company works closely with three Finnish shipyards – Helsinki, Rauma, and Turku – in addition to other international yards and shipowners, providing concept design, basic design, and production design across all the disciplines needed to get ships built.
Over the past decade, Bluetech has grown into an international organisation of about 100 professionals, operating from offices in Finland, Vietnam, and India. The company works closely with three Finnish shipyards – Helsinki, Rauma, and Turku – in addition to other international yards and shipowners, providing concept design, basic design, and production design across all the disciplines needed to get ships built.
Along the way, innovation has remained a constant. One example is BlueCOOL, an energy-efficiency solution that emerged as a spin-off from the original bulk carrier concept and continues to support greener vessel operations today.
A familiar partner
Long before the acquisition, Bluetech and Railotech had already built a working relationship. Bluetech supported Railotech on several demanding projects, including the Arctic Condensate Tanker and Ponant’s polar cruise ship. Those collaborations laid the groundwork for trust, but joining forces revealed the full picture.
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“For us, it has been an eye-opener to truly understand what Railotech does,” Hakulinen says. “The depth of know-how behind their icebreaker designs is remarkable.”
Where Railotech brings decades of focused expertise in ice-capable vessels, Bluetech contributes the breadth of handling the full design chain. Hakulinen believes the combination will prove powerful.
Complementary strengths
According to Hakulinen, their joint path has started off well, with an eagerness on both sides to learn from each other and to create something greater together.
Together, Railotech and Bluetech now form a team of approximately 150 professionals, capable of executing large and complex assignments – from the first outline of an idea through concept, basic, and production design.
Just as importantly, the partnership strengthens market confidence. Railotech’s position as a global leader in icebreaker design reflects positively on Bluetech, opening doors to larger and more integrated design scopes.
Looking ahead
For Hakulinen, the acquisition is about expanding potential.
“We’re a good team and we complement each other,” he says. “I genuinely believe we can turn our combined expertise into something very attractive – for our customers and for the future of ship design.”
As global demand for advanced icebreakers continues to grow, Railotech and Bluetech are no longer just collaborating project by project. They are building the next chapter together – stronger, broader, and better equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
Text by Catarina Stewen
