ESNA - Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects

What ESNA - Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects does

ESNA (Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects) is an independent Norwegian naval architecture firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kristiansand, Norway, with 11 employees. The company specializes in Surface Effect Ship (SES) technology, an air-cushion catamaran architecture in which twin rigid hulls combined with bow fingers, an inflated stern bag, and PLC-controlled fans, dampers, and sensors lift up to 80-90% of a vessel's weight out of the water. This dramatically reduces wetted surface area and resistance, enabling service speeds of 35-45 knots (up to 67 knots maximum) and 30-50% fuel savings versus conventional monohulls and catamarans. The portfolio spans the JCC (Joint Commando Craft) for littoral commando operations, the Strat Skua 23/26 and Sea Puffin for offshore wind CTV use, the CWind Pioneer as the world's first hybrid-powered SES, the AIRCAT 35 Crewliner for oil and gas crew transport, and hydrogen/battery ferries (Arctic Tern, SESpax24) for coastal routes.

ESNA's business model is a three-stream B2B operation. The company sells complete vessel design packages (drawings plus SES hardware including the proprietary air cushion system, fans, dampers, sensors, and HMI control system) to shipyards on a one-time license basis. It supplies the SES equipment package and control hardware as a separate revenue line, and earns licensing/design fees when vessel designs are promoted internationally under partner brands (AIRCAT for oil & gas, Eureka for naval defense). Distribution is asset-light and partner-mediated: Strategic Marine (Singapore) is the dominant builder with 600+ vessels historically; AIRCAT Vessels handles O&G sales; Eureka Naval Craft (US-based, multi-national ownership) handles defense; WindPartner operates wind farm service vessels. Pricing is project-by-project and not publicly disclosed. Target customer segments are offshore wind operators (primary), oil and gas operators (primary), fast ferry operators (primary), and naval/coast guard defense (secondary).

The company is privately held by its two founders, Trygve Halvorsen Espeland and Dr. Nere G. Skomedal, who collectively bring over 40 years of SES design and operational heritage, including SES vessels in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy since 1992. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or M&A activity are disclosed. Commercial milestones include the Sea Puffin (Workboat World Best Offshore Support Vessel 2018), the CWind Pioneer hybrid SES (Bureau Veritas Electric-Hybrid class notation, 2021), the 2021 ESNA-Strategic Marine formal agreement for offshore wind CTV co-development, the January 2025 delivery of three AIRCAT 35 Crewliners to Energy Craft/TotalEnergies Angola (Best High-Speed Crewboat 2024), and the May 2026 unveiling of the 67-knot JCC for the UK-Norwegian Joint Commando Craft program.

Name

ESNA - Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects

Legal name

ESNA AS

Website

https://esna.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ESNA is a Kristiansand-based independent naval architecture firm specializing in Surface Effect Ship (air-cushion catamaran) design, supplying SES vessel packages and proprietary hardware to shipbuilders serving offshore wind, oil and gas, fast ferry, and naval defense operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Architecture & Vessel Design Services

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (33661), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems (IMAJAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stability, Weight & Load Analysis (Intact/Damage Stability, Weight Control) (IMAJAGAI), Navigation, Communications & Integrated Bridge Systems Engineering (IMAJAGAH), Safety, Risk & Compliance Engineering (SOLAS, Class Rules, HAZID/HAZOP, FMEA) (IMAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Naval architecture services
• Surface effect ship design
• Air cushion catamaran
• Crew transfer vessel design
• Offshore wind vessel design

Headquarters

HQ city

Kristiansand

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ship Design Packages: ESNA sells complete vessel design packages including all design drawings and SES hardware to shipyards and partners. The design packages allow any shipyard to build SES vessels, with ESNA providing the proprietary air cushion systems, control systems, sensors, and HMI.
2. SES Hardware and Equipment Supply: ESNA supplies the SES equipment package including the air cushion system hardware, fans, dampers, control systems, and sensors. The fully automatic SES control system replaces hydraulic systems with modular electrical systems.
3. Licensing to Brand Partners: ESNA's vessel designs are promoted internationally under partner brands — AIRCAT for oil & gas markets and Eureka for naval defense — with ESNA receiving licensing or design fees for the use of its SES technology and brand.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ESNA is an independent naval architecture firm that sells complete Surface Effect Ship (SES) vessel design packages — including all design drawings and proprietary SES hardware (air cushion system, fans, dampers, PLC control system, sensors, and HMI) — to shipyards and brand partners. The SES technology combines twin catamaran hulls with an air cushion that lifts up to 90% of the vessel's weight out of the water, delivering 35–67 knot speeds with 30–50% fuel savings over conventional vessels. The company also offers hybrid and zero-emission (battery and hydrogen) powertrain integration.

Product overview

ESNA (Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects) is an independent Norwegian ship design company specializing in Surface Effect Ship (SES) technology and zero-emission vessels. The core offering centers on SES technology—a high-speed craft combining twin catamaran hulls with an air cushion system that lifts vessels up to 90% out of the water for dramatically reduced resistance and fuel consumption. ESNA's portfolio includes multiple vessel types: the JCC (Joint Commando Craft) for defense operations; Strat Skua 23/26 and Skua for offshore wind farm CTV applications; Sea Puffin as a compact daughter craft; CWind Pioneer as the world's first hybrid SES CTV; AIRCAT 35 Crewliner/Combi for oil and gas crew transport; and Arctic Tern and SESpax24 for battery/hydrogen-powered passenger ferries. The company also provides complete design packages including the SES hardware, state-of-the-art control systems with RCS and MCS modes, sensors, and HMI interfaces. Focus markets include offshore renewables, offshore operations, and fast ferries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AIRCAT: ESNA's vessel designs for the Oil & Gas industry, delivered by AIRCAT Vessels SAS. Promoted internationally under the AIRCAT brand.
• Eureka Naval Craft
• CWind Pioneer
• SES JCC

Products and services

• JCC (Joint Commando Craft) 22m SES craft designed for littoral commando operations in harsh arctic conditions, achieving 67 knots maximum speed with 35–45 knot air-cushioned service speed, 14-ton load capacity, deploys 24 troops, and features unique beach landing capability via integrated bow ramp.
• Strat Skua 23 SES Wind Farm CTV optimized for wind farms located 20–50 nautical miles from shore, offering market-leading speed and fuel economy with 30–50% fuel consumption reduction compared to similar vessels.
• Strat Skua 26 26m SES Wind Farm CTV with 11m beam, 24-passenger capacity, 30–40 knot service speed, and competitive low fuel consumption; designed with input from Strategic Marine.
• Arctic Tern Hydrogen Fast Ferry 38m hydrogen-powered fast ferry concept using compressed hydrogen and fuel cells for long-distance high-speed travel up to 160 nautical miles at 35–40 knots service speed for up to 275 passengers; received Approval in Principle from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.
• SESpax24 Electric Fast Ferry of the Future 24m battery-powered SES fast ferry with 12m beam, 180-passenger capacity, 40-knot service speed, and high DC charging capability for reduced port waiting time; part of the Norwegian 'Fremtidens Hurtigbåt' (Future Fast Ferry) program.
• AIRCAT 35 Crewliner 35m air-cushioned catamaran crew transport vessel achieving 50+ knots with 80-passenger business-class cabin; features RCS and MCS operational modes for safe passenger transfers in up to 2.5m significant wave height.
• AIRCAT 35 Combi Air-cushioned catamaran crew transport variant with deck cargo capacity; Bureau Veritas classified as HULL MACH Light ship / Fast passenger vessel with optional DP2 classification.
• Sea Puffin 15m SES daughter craft/CTV offering same wave height performance as a 20m conventional CTV with less than half the fuel consumption; certified for turbine access in up to 1.75m significant wave height; awarded Best Offshore Support Vessel — Wind Farm Service Vessel 2018.
• CWind Pioneer 22m hybrid-powered SES CTV achieving 43+ knots max speed with 30–50% fuel savings over conventional CTVs, 24-passenger capacity, and Bureau Veritas 'Electric-Hybrid' class notation; the world's first hybrid-powered SES.
• Skua Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) designed for wind farm operations using SES technology.
• ZES Ships Hydrogen CTV Hydrogen and battery powered CTV for wind farms enabling 100% emission-free 12-hour operations within 15 nautical miles via overnight battery charging and compressed hydrogen bunkering with fuel cells; built to IMO IGF code using type-approved equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30–50% fuel consumption reduction compared to similar vessels
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Strategic MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2021ESNA and Strategic Marine signed a formal agreement on 21 March 2021 to develop a SES CTV for offshore wind applications. The agreement was signed with witnesses from Innovation Norway and Enterprise Singapore. It extends their prior collaboration on three SES crewboats for oil and gas (AIRCAT 35 Crewliner) and foresees greater collaboration across offshore wind, oil and gas, and security and defence markets.
• WindPartner AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016WindPartner is a Norwegian offshore wind service provider. ESNA joined forces with WindPartner in 2016 to detail the Sea Puffin design, and WindPartner ordered and operates the first Sea Puffin 1 vessel (built at Esbjerg Shipyard in Denmark). WindPartner supported by Innovation Norway, Regional Research Council Agder, Sørlandet Knowledge Foundation, Carbon Trust's Offshore Wind Accelerator, and ENOVA.
• AIRCAT Vessels (SAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIRCAT Vessels was founded by marine industry professionals combining decades of offshore experience with ESNA's SES expertise. All AIRCAT vessels are designed by ESNA and equipped with ESNA SES systems. The AIRCAT brand promotes ESNA's SES crewboat designs internationally for the oil and gas market. ESNA plays a pivotal role in design and optimization; AIRCAT handles branding and sales.
• Strategic MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Marine Group is a full-capacity global shipbuilder with a shipyard in Singapore and presence in Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. They built the first three AIRCAT 35 Crewliners for ESNA/AIRCAT. In March 2021, ESNA and Strategic Marine signed an agreement to jointly develop and offer SES CTVs for offshore wind applications, with first vessel planned for Q4 2024 construction. Strategic Marine has delivered 36 CTVs for offshore wind since 2012.
• Eureka Naval CraftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEureka Naval Craft is a US-based company with shares from the US, UK, France, and Norway. ESNA's vessel designs for naval defense and coast guard sectors are offered internationally under the Eureka brand. All Eureka vessels are designed by ESNA and equipped with ESNA SES systems. The designs offer groundbreaking performance with remarkable high speed, excellent seakeeping, beaching capabilities, and modular multi-role features.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brødrene Aa: Norwegian builder of high-speed carbon fiber catamaran ferries and fast craft for offshore and passenger markets. Most directly comparable to ESNA as a Norwegian specialist in high-speed, lightweight vessels, though Brødrene Aa is a shipbuilder rather than a pure design firm.
• Incat: Australian builder of large high-speed aluminum catamaran ferries and naval/logistics vessels. Comparable to ESNA in the high-speed catamaran category, with overlapping end markets in fast ferries and defense, though Incat is a vertically integrated shipbuilder rather than a design specialist.
• BMT Group: UK-based independent maritime engineering, naval architecture and design consultancy. Comparable to ESNA as an independent naval architecture firm providing ship design and engineering consulting services rather than shipbuilding, with overlapping offshore and defense clients.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian marine technology supplier of integrated bridge systems, automation, and propulsion for offshore wind, naval, and merchant vessels. Comparable to ESNA's integrated control system and HMI offering, and a potential competitor or supplier for ship automation systems.
• Austal: Australian-headquartered global shipbuilder of high-speed aluminum vessels for defense and commercial ferry markets. Comparable broad high-speed vessel incumbent with overlapping defense and ferry customers, though Austal focuses on conventional catamarans rather than SES technology.
• Wärtsilä: Finnish marine technology company providing ship engines, propulsion systems, hybrid solutions, and lifecycle services. Comparable to ESNA's hardware and propulsion focus, particularly for hybrid and zero-emission marine systems, though Wärtsilä is a much larger broad incumbent.
• Damen Shipyards: Dutch global shipbuilder with a wide portfolio including fast crew boats, patrol vessels, and offshore support vessels. Comparable broad incumbent in the offshore wind CTV and fast patrol vessel markets where ESNA competes, though Damen offers a much wider portfolio of conventional hull forms.

Others

• Strategic Marine: Singapore-headquartered shipbuilder of aluminum and steel vessels with 600+ vessels delivered. Direct partner and manufacturing arm for ESNA designs, but also a potential future licensee/competitor if Strategic Marine develops in-house high-speed capabilities.
• MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands): Dutch independent maritime research institute conducting CFD, seakeeping, and resistance testing for SES, catamaran, and high-speed craft. Comparable to ESNA in the underlying naval architecture engineering and stability/seakeeping analysis domain, acting as an adjacent R&D and test partner rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Artemis Technologies: UK-based developer of high-speed foiling vessels (Artemis eFoiler) for ferry and offshore wind CTV markets. Comparable emerging competitor in the zero-emission high-speed marine space, with overlapping CTV and fast ferry customers competing on similar speed/efficiency value props.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esna-as

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 ESNA - Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects