KSS - Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð

What KSS - Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð does

KSS - Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð is a privately held maritime service company founded in 1928 in Klaksvík, Faroe Islands, providing comprehensive ship repair, maintenance, and overhaul services to the maritime, fishing, and aquaculture industries. The company operates from a single integrated shipyard at Ravnagil, Klaksvík, offering a one-stop service portfolio that spans mechanical engine work, hydraulics, steel work, and electrical services, supplemented by a 1,500-ton docking facility with 200m+ of dock area and an 80-ton combined traverse crane system (installed 2021). A fleet of 30 service vehicles provides 24/7 mobile maintenance coverage across the Faroe Islands, and the company acts as an authorized representative for international marine equipment brands including BEVI, VEM, Ibercisa, Azcue, Dunlop Hiflex, Caterpillar, GEFICO, Cralog, and International Marine.

The business is organized around three wholly-owned entities: KSS (core ship services), Búrhella (rental of pilot boats and crane trucks, established 2011), and Johs.Elektro (electromechanical workshop acquired 2017). Approximately 70 employees work across the group, with new machinists certified through a four-year in-house apprenticeship program. The company serves enterprise customers in local fishing and salmon farming, with named clients including MOWI, Faroe Origin, Johnson Marine, the vessel Norðborg, and Ruth HG264. In November 2024, KSS entered a strategic partnership with Scale AQ to construct aquaculture rings locally in the Faroe Islands, with the first MOWI-delivered ring at Sandsvág completed in October 2025, marking a deliberate move into the aquaculture infrastructure vertical.

KSS generates revenue through project-based ship repair and maintenance services, equipment rentals (pilot boats, crane trucks), electromechanical services via Johs.Elektro, and hardware pass-through sales of represented marine equipment brands. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company employs a direct field-sales go-to-market motion, anchored by its physical dock facility and mobile service fleet, supplemented by participation in industry exhibitions such as Atlantic Fair and NorShipping. The company is led by CEO Frimodt Rasmussen and operates as a private limited company (partafelag) with no external venture or private equity funding.

Name

KSS - Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð

Legal name

Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð

Website

https://kss.fo

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KSS - Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð is a Faroe Islands-based maritime service company offering comprehensive ship repair, maintenance, and docking for fishing and aquaculture vessels, with 30 mobile service vehicles and three integrated subsidiaries serving local enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ship Repair and Maintenance Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking (TLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Piping, HVAC & Auxiliary Systems Repair (TLAKAKAH), Marine MRO Parts & Consumables Distribution (TLAKAOAJ), Electrical, Automation & Navigation MRO (Power, Controls, Comms, ECDIS/Radar) (IMAJAFAD), Underwater Hull Inspection, Cleaning & Propeller Services (TLAKAKAJ)

Keywords

• Ship repair services
• Marine maintenance
• Ship docking
• Engine overhaul
• Maritime services

Headquarters

HQ city

Klaksvík

HQ country

Faroe Islands

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ship Repair and Maintenance Services: Comprehensive repair, maintenance, and overhaul services for ships including engine work, steel work, electrical work, and hydraulic services. Revenue generated through project-based work at the dock facility or on-site at customer locations.
2. Equipment Rental: Rental of pilot boats, tugboats, and crane trucks for various tasks in the maritime and fishing industry.
3. Electromechanical Equipment Sales: Sales of electric motors, gears, drum motors, pumps, and spare parts as representative of BEVI and VEM brands, plus Ibercisa trawl blocks.
4. Hydraulic Components and Supplies: Sale of hydraulic components including hoses, pipes, fittings, valves, motors, and pumps from inventory.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KSS provides comprehensive ship services including maintenance, repair, engine overhauls, docking, steel work, electrical work, hydraulic services, and 24/7 mobile field service for ships, the aquaculture industry, and land-based industry. The company operates a dock facility in Klaksvík accommodating vessels up to 1,500 tons and 65m LOA, supported by 30 service vehicles providing round-the-clock mobile maintenance throughout the Faroe Islands. It also sells and rents marine equipment as authorized representative of international brands such as BEVI, VEM, Ibercisa, Azcue, and Dunlop Hiflex.

Product overview

KSS operates as a comprehensive ship service company offering a unified portfolio of integrated services for ships, fish farming, and land-based industry. The core offering centers on Heildartænastur fyri skip (Comprehensive Ship Services), which encompasses mechanical, hydraulic, steel, and electrical work delivered through the main KSS entity. Supporting this are specialized service lines: Motor arbeiði (engine work) for all engine types and brands, Beding og kaiøki (docking) with a 1500-ton ship lift, Útleigan (rental) of pilot boats and crane trucks, and Døgntænasta (24/7 service) providing mobile support. Two sub-brands extend the portfolio: Búrhella handles boat and crane truck rental, while Johs.Elektro provides electromechanical services including electric motors and pump solutions. Together these form a vertically integrated marine service offering from a single provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comprehensive Ship Services (Heildartænastur fyri skip) Full service for ships covering maintenance, renovation, equipment installation, and repair. Includes mechanical, hydraulic, steel, and electrical work delivered by experienced staff using modern facilities at the Klaksvík dock. Targeted at ship owners, fishing companies, and operators needing end-to-end vessel servicing.
• Engine Work (Motor arbeiði) Engine service for ship motors of all sizes and brands, from routine maintenance to major overhauls. Includes repair of gears, turbines, regulators, propellers, and propeller shafts. Targeted at ship owners requiring full-scope engine and propulsion work.
• Docking and Quay Area (Beding og kaiøki) Ship lift services for vessels up to 1,500 tons and 65m LOA, with over 200m of dock area. Includes high-pressure cleaning, zinc replacement, water blasting, bottom measurements, painting, shaft pulling, and classification work. Targeted at ship owners needing dry-dock services locally in the Faroe Islands.
• Rental Services (Útleigan) Rental of pilot boats, tugboats, and crane trucks for maritime and industrial tasks. Targeted at fishing companies, marine operators, and industrial customers requiring short-term access to specialized vessels and heavy-lift equipment.
• 24/7 Mobile Service (Døgntænasta) Round-the-clock mobile maintenance and repair service throughout the Faroe Islands and abroad. Backed by 30 service vehicles and skilled personnel handling maintenance, special tasks, and emergency response. Targeted at vessel and industrial operators needing on-site field service at any hour.
• Búrhella (Fishing Vessel and Crane Truck Rental)
• Johs.Elektro (Electromechanical Workshop) Electromechanical workshop acquired by KSS in 2017, offering inspection and repair of electrical motors and generators. Represents BEVI and VEM electric motors and supplies various pumps for ships and industry. Targeted at ship operators and industrial users needing in-Faroe Islands electro-mechanical service that previously had to be sent abroad.
• Marine Equipment and Spare Parts Sales Sales of electric motors (BEVI, VEM), Ibercisa trawl blocks including the new PM (Permanent Magnet) trawl blocks with 55-ton pulling power, Azcue pumps, Dunlop Hiflex products, International Marine products, Zeppelin Caterpillar equipment, GEFICO, and Crulog products. Sales of hydraulic components including hoses, pipes, fittings, valves, motors, and pumps. Targeted at ship owners, fishing companies, and industrial customers in the Faroe Islands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aquaculture ring for MOWI built in Faroe Islands with Scale AQ partnership - demonstrating local capability for large-scale marine construction
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scale AQcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership announced November 2024 for construction of aquaculture rings in Faroe Islands. Scale AQ is a leading provider of aquaculture rings and mooring systems with over 40 years of experience. KSS serves as local partner for fabrication and installation, strengthening service capabilities in the Faroe Islands.
• BEVIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS represents BEVI electric motors, offering a wide range of standard and marine electric motors. BEVI products complement KSS's electro-mechanical services through Johs.Elektro.
• VEMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS offers VEM electric motors as part of their marine equipment portfolio, providing customers with additional brand options for electro-mechanical needs.
• IbercisacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS represents Ibercisa trawl systems including the new PM (Permanent Magnet) trawl blocks with 55-ton pulling power, suitable for factory trawlers.
• Azcue PumpsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS is an authorized representative for Azcue Pumps, offering industrial and marine pump solutions.
• International MarineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS represents International Marine products for the Faroe Islands market.
• Dunlop HiflexminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS is an authorized representative for Dunlop Hiflex industrial and marine equipment.
• Zeppelin CatminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS represents Zeppelin Caterpillar equipment in the Faroe Islands.
• GEFICOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS is an authorized representative for GEFICO products.
• CrulogminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSS represents Crulog products for the marine market.
• EysturkommunaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for steel work on new boat lift in Leirvík, completed in 2020.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Vard: One of Europe's largest shipbuilders (Fincantieri subsidiary) with ship repair and conversion yards across Norway and internationally. Overlaps with KSS on commercial vessel repair but operates at materially larger scale and broader vessel class.
• Westcon Yards: Norwegian shipyard group with repair, conversion, and newbuild capabilities serving offshore, fishing, and aquaculture. Overlaps with KSS on repair/MRO and aquaculture infrastructure, but serves a much broader vessel class.

Direct peers

• MEST Skipasmiðja: Faroese shipyard also headquartered in Klaksvík providing ship repair, maintenance, and conversion services to fishing and aquaculture operators. MEST is KSS's closest domestic competitor for the same customer base.
• Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted: Norwegian mechanical workshop and ship service yard serving fishing and offshore vessels on Norway's west coast. Comparable scale and service mix (mechanical, electrical, steel, docking) to KSS.
• Havyard Ship Technology: Norwegian shipbuilder and service yard specializing in fishing vessels, offshore service vessels, and aquaculture infrastructure. Overlaps with KSS on vessel repair and aquaculture equipment fabrication.
• Karstensen Shipyard: Danish (Skagen) shipyard focused on building and servicing fishing vessels, including factory trawlers. Highly comparable in fishing-industry customer profile, classification work, and engine overhaul scope.

Regional players

• Cemre Shipyard: Turkish shipyard specializing in offshore support vessels, fishing vessels, and complex repair/retrofit projects. Competes in the broader North Atlantic repair market but based in a different geography.
• Remontowa Shipbuilding: Major Polish shipyard in Gdańsk with extensive ship repair, conversion, and offshore capabilities. Competes with KSS indirectly for North Atlantic fishing fleet overhauls; geographic base differs but service scope overlaps.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kss-klaksv%C3%ADkar-sleipist%C3%B8%C3%B0

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 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 KSS - Klaksvíkar Sleipistøð