What Western Shipyard does

Western Shipyard (legal name: AB Vakarų Laivų Gamykla; operating as Western Shipyard Group, WSY, and BLRT Western Shipyard) is a privately held Lithuanian marine engineering corporation headquartered at Minijos st. 180, 93269 Klaipėda, Lithuania, and controlled since 2001 by Estonian conglomerate BLRT Grupp. Founded on 1 March 1969 as a large-tonnage ship repair yard, the group today incorporates 21 specialized subsidiaries plus two joint ventures (MacGregor BLRT Baltic with Finland's MacGregor; Wärtsilä BLRT Estonia) and delivers full-lifecycle ship services across five business streams: shipbuilding (newbuild ferries, offshore patrol vessel hulls, fishing vessels, wind farm servicing vessels, cruise ship blocks), ship repair and conversion, ship design and engineering, port services and stevedoring, and manufacturing of high-technology equipment and metal structures. Operations are anchored at the ice-free Klaipėda Seaport on roughly 50 hectares with 3 km of quays, 150,000 m² of workshops, and three floating docks — including Dock 12 at 235 m × 45 m with 33,000 t lifting capacity, marketed as the largest floating dock in the Baltic States. Workforce is reported at 2,000 on the company's homepage and 3,000+ in corporate materials; it is described as the largest employer in Western Lithuania.

The group's technology stack combines heavy steel fabrication with digitally enabled ship design (3D scanning, 100 in-house engineers at Western Baltic Engineering), high-voltage offshore cable handling systems (Marine Technology, acquired 2017), and emerging green-marine capabilities — most notably the 'Rasa', a 42 m green hydrogen and electric-powered tanker christened at Klaipėda in June 2026 (€12 million, partnered with Estonian shipbuilder Baltic Workboats and French hydrogen integrator Genevos SAS), billed as the first hydrogen-powered ship in the Baltic Sea region. Specialized handling infrastructure includes a 31-tonne electro-hydraulic gantry crane (E-Crane, 42 m boom — largest of its kind in the Baltic States), a 100 t floating crane, a 104 t Liebherr LHM 400 mobile crane, ten 30 t KONE/CERUTTI pier cranes, and approximately 5,000 m of internal railway. The group holds NATO AQAP2110 defense-procurement certification alongside ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certifications across multiple subsidiaries.

Revenue is generated across project-based shipbuilding (one-time per vessel, exported to Germany, France, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark), professional-services ship repair with recurring anchor customers, transaction/volume-based stevedoring, engineering design services bundled with or sold alongside shipbuilding, and project/product revenue from EPCI metal-structure manufacturing. Pricing is quote-based per contract with no publicly disclosed list pricing; notable disclosed contract values include a €6.5 million ferry for Smiltynės Perkėla (2021), the €12 million Rasa hydrogen tanker, and a long-term 400,000 t/year scrap-metal loading commitment. Group turnover was reported at €110.4 million for 2020. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales and tender-led: customers are acquired through direct engagement with shipping operators and government defense procurement, competitive bidding, industry referrals, and demonstrated delivery of specialized vessels; distribution is regional (Lithuania, Estonia, Finland via the BLRT Repair Yards network of three yards and seven docks) plus international direct export to European maritime buyers.

Name

Western Shipyard

Legal name

AB Vakarų Laivų Gamykla

Website

https://wsy.lt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Western Shipyard Group is a Lithuanian privately held marine engineering corporation (owned by Estonian BLRT Grupp) delivering full-lifecycle ship services — shipbuilding, repair, design, port logistics, and steel fabrication — through 21 subsidiaries serving international shipping operators, defense agencies, and port customers from Klaipėda Seaport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship and Boat Building (33661), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking (TLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dry Docks & Floating Docks (Graving, Floating, Syncrolift) (IMAJALAA), Naval & Government Vessel Maintenance & Modernization (TLAKAKAB), Yard Layout & Production Facilities (Assembly Bays, Block Fabrication Shops, Warehouses) (IMAJALAG), Heavy Lifting & Material Handling Infrastructure (Goliath Cranes, Jib Cranes, Hoists) (IMAJALAD), Mechanical Systems Repair (Engines, Propulsion, Pumps) (TLAKAKAF)

Keywords

• Shipbuilding services
• Ship repair
• Marine engineering
• Stevedoring services
• Offshore equipment manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Klaipeda

HQ country

Lithuania

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Shipbuilding: Design, construction, and delivery of specialized and unique vessels including fishing vessels, ferries, offshore patrol vessels, research vessels, wind farm servicing vessels, and cruise ship blocks. Projects are turn-key or partially equipped hulls. Exported to Germany, France, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other countries. Revenue is project-based, one-time per vessel.
2. Ship Repair and Conversion: Maintenance, repair, dry-docking, retrofit, and modernization of various vessel types including chemical tankers, dredgers, patrol vessels, and passenger ferries. Revenue is project-based per vessel, with long-term partnerships (e.g., Stolt Tankers, DEME Group) generating recurring orders.
3. Port Services, Logistics & Stevedoring: Western Stevedoring handles and stores dry-bulk, break-bulk, liquid, and packed cargoes, as well as heavy lift and oversized equipment across five specialized terminals. Western Ships Agency provides agency, chartering, and freight forwarding services. Elme Transportas provides international and domestic cargo delivery and forwarding. Revenue is transaction/volume-based for cargo handling and service fees.
4. Ship Design & Engineering: Complex ship design and engineering solutions provided by Western Baltic Engineering, including design and technical support for shipbuilding, offshore, and maritime industry solutions. Revenue is earned as part of shipbuilding contracts or as standalone engineering service contracts.
5. Manufacturing of High-Technology Equipment and Metal Structures: Production of power cable handling and storage systems, stainless steel and aluminium tanks, pressure vessels, and complex metal constructions for offshore oil & gas, offshore renewables, civil engineering, energy, chemical, food, agriculture, and construction industries. Revenue is project-based (EPCI contracts) and product-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Western Shipyard Group (AB Vakarų Laivų Gamykla) provides end-to-end ship lifecycle services through 21 specialized subsidiaries. Core offerings include newbuild ship construction (specialized vessels, ferries, offshore patrol vessels), ship repair and conversion at the largest floating dock in the Baltics (235 m x 45 m, 33,000 t lifting capacity), complex ship design and engineering, manufacturing of high-technology equipment and metal structures, and port services, logistics, and stevedoring at Klaipeda Seaport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shipbuilding (Newbuild Vessel Construction) Design, construction, and delivery of turn-key specialized and unique vessels including fishing vessels, ferries, offshore patrol vessels, research vessels, wind farm servicing vessels, and cruise ship blocks. Customers include international shipping companies, ferry operators, and government defense agencies. Projects are delivered as turn-key ships or partially equipped hulls and exported to Germany, France, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other countries. Revenue is project-based per vessel.
• Ship Repair and Conversion Maintenance, repair, dry-docking, retrofit, and modernization of various vessel types including chemical tankers, dredgers, patrol vessels, and passenger ferries. Provided through Western Shiprepair and the BLRT Repair Yards network (Klaipeda, Tallinn, Naantali) with 7 docks and the largest floating dock in the Baltics. Includes ballast water treatment system installation, equipment modernization, and class survey work. Revenue is project-based per vessel, with long-term partnerships (Stolt Tankers, DEME Group) generating recurring orders.
• Ship Design and Engineering Complex ship design and engineering solutions including design and technical support for shipbuilding, offshore, and maritime industry. Provided by Western Baltic Engineering using 3D scanning technology, with a team of 100 highly qualified engineers and designers developing eco-friendly vessel designs. Sold as part of shipbuilding contracts or as standalone engineering service contracts.
• Port Services, Logistics and Stevedoring Cargo handling, storage, port agency, chartering, freight forwarding, and transport services at Klaipeda Seaport. Western Stevedoring operates five specialized terminals handling dry-bulk, break-bulk, liquid, and packed cargoes as well as heavy-lift and oversized equipment, using a 100-ton floating crane, 104-ton Liebherr LHM 400 mobile crane, 10 KONE/CERUTTI pier cranes (30 t each), the E-Crane 31-ton electro-hydraulic gantry crane (largest in the Baltic States), and ~5,000 m of internal railway. Western Ships Agency provides agency and chartering services; Elme Transportas provides cargo delivery, forwarding, and equipment rental. Revenue is transaction/volume-based.
• Manufacturing of High-Technology Equipment and Metal Structures Production of power cable handling and storage systems, stainless steel and aluminum tanks, pressure vessels, and complex metal constructions for offshore oil & gas, offshore renewables, civil engineering, energy, chemical, food, agriculture, and construction industries. Marine Technology is a world-leading supplier of equipment for transportation of high-voltage offshore cables, offering EPCI services. Production facility: 25,000 m² covered + 10,000 m² open assembly area. Revenue is project-based (EPCI contracts) and product-based.

Quantifiable outcome

• Loading capacity increase of approximately 40% with E-Crane technology at Western Stevedoring
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Baltic WorkboatscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Primary contractor alongside Western Shipyard Group in the construction of the world's first green hydrogen and electric-powered tanker 'Rasa' at the Port of Klaipėda, Lithuania. Baltic Workboats and Western Shipyard collaborated in a Lithuania-Estonia cross-border partnership to deliver this 12 million euro advanced vessel, which collects bilge water, sludge, and garbage from ships while emitting only water vapor.
• Genevos SAScoreTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2026Supplier of hydrogen systems for the Rasa green hydrogen-powered tanker project. Genevos SAS provided the hydrogen fuel cell and electric propulsion systems that enable the vessel to operate emissions-free (water vapor only), making it the first hydrogen-powered ship in the Baltic Sea region.
• Wärtsilä BLRT EstoniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture providing repair, overhaul, and maintenance of diesel engines, propulsion systems, and auxiliary machinery at Western Shipyard's facilities. Part of the integrated ship repair service offering.
• MacGregor BLRT BalticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between Western Shipyard (established 2011) and MacGregor (Finnish global marine and offshore cargo handling company). Provides repair and maintenance of hatch covers, Ro-Ro equipment, ramps, and deck cranes, as well as fast repair service while ship handling in port. A global-level ship-crane, hatch cover, ramp production and repair company.
• BLRT ERAcoreTechnology or IntegrationMarine electrical installation, repair, and modernization works at Western Shipyard. Part of the integrated suite of ship repair services.
• Tallinn Shipyard (BLRT Repair Yards)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the BLRT Repair Yards network alongside Western Shiprepair (Klaipėda) and Turku Repair Yard (Naantali, Finland). The three-yard network provides coordinated ship repair, maintenance, and retrofit services across the Baltic Sea region, with combined capabilities of 7 docks.
• Turku Repair Yard (BLRT Repair Yards)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the BLRT Repair Yards network alongside Western Shiprepair (Klaipėda) and Tallinn Shipyard (Estonia). The network covers three ship repair yards across Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland with 7 docks and the largest floating dock in the Baltics (245 m × 45 m).
• Lithuanian Naval ForcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement signed on February 15, 2023, for the 'Lithuanian Warship 2030' project — a unique collaboration between the Lithuanian maritime cluster (12 members), Naval Forces of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, science institutions, and innovation centers to create a conceptual design for a new generation Navy ship.
• Lithuanian Maritime ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiator of the Lithuanian Warship 2030 project, pooling 12 members representing domestic and foreign business organizations, science, and innovation agencies. The cluster seeks to create high added-value solutions and open new opportunities for the Lithuanian maritime industry and defense sector.
• Klaipėda Science and Technology ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates the activities of the Maritime Cluster and is a signatory of the Lithuanian Warship 2030 cooperation agreement, contributing expertise in innovation and technology commercialization for the new generation warship project.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Damen Shipyards Group: Major European shipbuilding group with yards across the Netherlands, Romania, China and Vietnam, building workboats, tugs, patrol vessels, and offshore vessels. Comparable in target vessel segments (patrol, offshore support, ferries) and in serving government and commercial clients, but globally diversified versus Western's Baltic concentration.
• Meyer Turku: One of Europe's largest cruise and specialized vessel shipbuilders based in Finland. Comparable as a Nordic/Baltic-region shipbuilder serving international shipping clients, but at materially larger scale and focused on cruise ships rather than the smaller specialized vessels Western builds.
• Aker Yards / Aker Solutions: Norwegian-based large-scale shipbuilder and offshore engineering firm with deep heritage in offshore vessels, FPSOs, and renewable energy infrastructure. Comparable in offshore vessel engineering and renewable cable handling/manufacturing (parallel to Marine Technology's offering).
• Vard (Fincantieri): Norwegian-Italian shipbuilder specializing in offshore service vessels, fishing vessels, and specialized tonnage. Directly comparable in vessel categories (offshore support, specialized vessels) and in serving Northern European shipping operators from Nordic shipyards.

Direct peers

• Baltic Workboats: Estonian shipbuilder of workboats, patrol vessels, and innovative vessels; co-builder with Western Shipyard of the Rasa hydrogen tanker. Comparable in building smaller specialized vessels and in cross-border Baltic shipbuilding collaboration.
• Remontowa Shipbuilding: Major Polish ship repair and newbuild yard in Gdańsk offering similar services — ship repair, conversions, newbuilds of specialized vessels, and offshore structures. Comparable in geographic reach across the Baltic and in vessel segment mix (ferries, offshore, chemical tankers).
• Crist S.A. (Gdynia): Polish shipyard in Gdynia specializing in newbuild ferries, offshore vessels, and complex steel structures. Comparable in building ferries and specialized vessels for Northern European clients and in steel fabrication capability.
• BLRT Repair Yards (Tallinn Shipyard): Sister yard within the same BLRT Grupp network, jointly marketed with Western Shiprepair under the BLRT Repair Yards brand (7 docks across the Baltic). Directly comparable ship repair, retrofit, and conversion offering for chemical tankers, dredgers, and offshore vessels in the same geography.
• Palumbo Malta Shipyards: Mediterranean ship repair and conversion network with yards in Malta, Naples, and Tenerife. Directly comparable as a multi-yard ship repair/refurbishment specialist targeting cruise, chemical tanker, and offshore vessel clients (e.g., MSC Poesia refurbishment).
• Turku Repair Yard (Naantali, BLRT): Third yard in the BLRT Repair Yards network alongside Western Shiprepair and Tallinn Shipyard, located in Naantali, Finland. Directly comparable offering of ship repair, retrofit, and conversion services within the same corporate group and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western Shipyard