What Hav As does

HAV Design AS is a Norwegian ship design company headquartered in Fosnavåg, Sunnmøre, with a regional office in Sopot, Poland. Founded as the successor to Havyard Design & Solutions, the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HAV Group ASA, which is listed on Euronext Growth Oslo. HAV Design provides energy-efficient ship design services, system packages, and engineering for three core segments: Seafood (live fish carriers, wellboats, fishing vessels), Energy (Service Operation Vessels for offshore wind, subsea and offshore support vessels), and Transport (zero-emission ferries, autonomous ferries, coastal cruise and Arctic cargo vessels). The company has delivered more than 120 vessel designs across its history.

The firm's core technology is HAV Ocean LAB, a proprietary digital twin simulation platform developed over more than ten years that creates virtual test environments for vessels and sea areas, enabling simulation-based design validation, route simulation, hull optimization via in-house CFD analysis, and operational data integration before physical construction. HAV Design sells project-based design and engineering services under one-time contract arrangements, typically in the NOK 90-200 million range per major project, plus vessel modification and upgrade services. Projects include integrated equipment packages bundling ship design with propulsion systems, engines, propellers, positioning systems, and energy systems, with vertical integration benefits from HAV Group sister companies (NES, HAV Hydrogen, Norwegian Greentech).

HAV Design operates exclusively through direct enterprise B2B engagement with shipowners and maritime operators, including long-term strategic customers such as ESVAGT (12+ SOVs), Fjord1 (18 ferries), Ørsted, CREST Wind (Crowley-ESVAGT JV), Royal Arctic Line, Cermaq, and Havila Kystruten. The company's geographic footprint spans Norway, the UK, the Netherlands, the United States (via Jones Act-compliant SOV designs), Greenland (Arctic cargo), Poland (engineering hub), and Brazil (ethanol retrofit). Recent strategic priorities include entering the US offshore wind market, scaling autonomous zero-emission ferry design, and developing alternative-fuel vessel platforms (methanol-electric, ammonia, ethanol retrofits), supported by a 2026 leadership refresh across the Managing Director, Chief Designer, and VP Sales roles.

Name

Hav As

Legal name

HAV Design AS

Website

https://havdesign.no

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

HAV Design AS is a Norwegian ship design firm (subsidiary of HAV Group ASA) delivering energy-efficient vessel designs and integrated system packages across seafood, offshore energy, and transport segments. It serves shipowners and operators globally via simulation-based design using its proprietary HAV Ocean LAB digital twin platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Architecture and Ship Design Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Engineering & Power Distribution (Generation, Switchboards, Cabling, Lighting) (IMAJAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stability, Weight & Load Analysis (Intact/Damage Stability, Weight Control) (IMAJAGAI)

Keywords

• Ship design services
• Vessel engineering
• Offshore wind vessels
• Live fish carriers
• Zero-emission ferries

Headquarters

HQ city

Fosnavåg

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ship Design Contracts: Design and engineering services for new vessel construction including ship design, detailed drawings, and concept development. Contracts awarded for specific vessel projects with pricing around NOK 90-200 million per major project.
2. Integrated Equipment Packages: Delivery of comprehensive equipment packages including propulsion systems, engines, propellers, positioning systems, and energy systems bundled with ship design services.
3. Vessel Modification and Upgrade Services: Major redesign and modification services for existing vessels including engineering for capacity extensions, technology upgrades, and regulatory compliance modifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HAV Design provides energy-efficient ship design services, integrated system packages, and detailed engineering for vessels across three segments: Seafood (live fish carriers and aquaculture vessels), Energy (offshore wind SOVs, subsea and icebreakers), and Transport (zero-emission and autonomous ferries, passenger and cargo vessels). The company also operates HAV Ocean LAB, a proprietary digital twin simulation platform used to validate vessel performance and operational scenarios before construction, and offers major vessel conversion and modification services.

Product overview

HAV Design is a Norwegian ship design company offering design services, system packages and engineering for energy-efficient ships with low environmental impact. The company operates across three segments: Seafood (live fish carriers and fishing vessels), Energy (SOVs for offshore wind, offshore vessels), and Transport (ferries, passenger vessels, cargo vessels). Their portfolio includes platform designs such as HAV 595 for live fish carriers, HAV 832/833 for SOVs, and HAV 934 for ferries. The HAV Ocean Lab provides digital twin simulation capabilities for virtual vessel testing and optimization. Services include new vessel design, conversion projects, and integrated equipment packages combining ship design with propulsion systems, engines, and positioning systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HAV Ocean LAB: A virtual test arena for complete vessel concepts using digital twins, enabling simulation and comparison of technology solutions.

Products and services

• HAV 595 Platform A versatile live fish carrier design platform with 5,000 m³ fish well capacity, hybrid propulsion, DC distribution, PM technologies and a large battery pack. Developed for aquaculture operators focused on biosecurity, fish welfare, cost-efficiency and environmental performance.
• Seafood Vessel Design Ship design services for the seafood industry including live fish carriers and fishing vessels, with focus on energy efficiency, fish welfare and sustainable aquaculture operations.
• Energy Vessel Design (SOV/CSOV) Design of Service Operation Vessels (SOV) and Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOV) for offshore wind operations, including methanol-electric and ammonia-fuelled vessel platforms for zero to low-emission operations.
• Transport Vessel Design Ship design services for the transport sector including zero-emission and autonomous ferries, passenger vessels, coastal cruise ships, and cargo vessels, featuring battery-powered and hybrid propulsion systems.
• HAV Ocean LAB A virtual test laboratory that creates digital twins of vessels and sea areas using multi-disciplinary simulation platforms, enabling customers to test hundreds of technology combinations and operating scenarios in the concept phase and optimise performance before construction.
• Vessel Conversion and Modification Services Major modification and conversion services for existing vessels including redesign, detailed engineering, and integration of new systems such as battery systems, dynamic positioning, and emission-reducing technologies.
• Integrated Equipment Packages Delivery of comprehensive equipment packages including propulsion systems, engines, propellers, positioning systems, and energy systems bundled with ship design services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000 tons annual CO2 savings from zero-emission ferry designs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ESVAGTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partnership spanning 12+ SOV designs. ESVAGT is the market leader in European SOV operations with 40+ vessels. Partnership includes development of methanol-electric, ammonia-fuelled, and standard SOV designs for offshore wind operations. Notable projects include vessels for Ørsted, Hollandse Kust West, and US market through CREST Wind joint venture.
• Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted AScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilding yard for live fish carrier projects including FMV63 HAV 595 vessel for North Salmon Service. Responsible for detail engineering and hull construction coordination. Represents Norwegian shipbuilding expertise in complex aquaculture vessel projects.
• Fincantieri Bay ShipbuildingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUS shipyard partner constructing HAV 832 SOV for CREST Wind/Crowley-ESVAGT joint venture. Jones Act compliant construction in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Key partner for US market entry in offshore wind sector.
• CEMRE ShipyardcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTurkish shipyard partner for multiple SOV constructions including HAV 833 vessels for ESVAGT. Responsible for vessel construction and integration of HAV Design equipment packages.
• Tersan ShipyardcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTurkish shipyard constructing four autonomous zero-emission ferries for Fjord1 Lavik-Oppedal project. Contract partner for HAV Design on ferry newbuilds.
• Marine Projects Ltd. Sp. z o.o.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPolish hull yard subcontractor for FMV63 live fish carrier project. Responsible for steel engineering and hull construction in Gdańsk, Poland.
• CREST Wind (Crowley-ESVAGT JV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between Crowley (US) and ESVAGT (Denmark) for Jones Act compliant SOV operations in US offshore wind market. HAV Design developing vessels for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project. First European designer to develop SOV for US market.
• NorthWind Research CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian research centre on wind energy with 50+ partners from research institutions and industry. Led by SINTEF with partners including NTNU, NINA, NGI, and UiO. HAV Design contributes to offshore wind research as part of FME (Research centres for environmentally friendly energy).
• Norwegian Electric Systems (NES)coreTechnology or IntegrationSister company within HAV Group delivering energy systems, electric propulsion, battery solutions, and control systems for HAV Design vessel projects. Collaboration on HAV 588L live fish carrier, Havila Capella, and autonomous ferry projects.
• SINTEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian research institute collaboration on ship design R&D since 2019 through SFI Smart Maritime. Collaboration on HAV Ocean Lab development and operational profile analysis for energy-efficient vessel design.
• DOF SubseaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsea contractor for Rem Inspector conversion project. Provided module handling system and ROV equipment for IMR vessel conversion. Worked with HAV Design and Rem Offshore on complex conversion completed in 6 weeks.
• Frøy ASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeventh contract between HAV Design and Frøy for live fish carrier development. Customer for HAV 588L world's most environmentally friendly salmon transporter operating for Cermaq.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Damen Shipyards: Dutch shipbuilding group with in-house ship design capability across workboats, offshore, ferry, and specialized vessels. Comparable to HAV Design across multiple vessel segments, particularly ferries and offshore support, but as a vertically integrated builder rather than a pure designer.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Division of Kongsberg Gruppen, one of the largest maritime technology suppliers globally, offering ship design, integrated systems, propulsion, and autonomous vessel technology. Comparable to HAV Design on autonomy, electrical systems, and offshore vessel offerings, but at far greater scale and broader portfolio.
• Wärtsilä: Global marine technology leader providing ship design services, engine and propulsion systems, and decarbonization solutions for the maritime industry. Overlaps with HAV Design on alternative-fuel vessel design (methanol, hydrogen) and energy-efficient ship concepts, but at significantly larger scale.
• ABB Marine & Ports: Global supplier of marine electrical propulsion, power systems, automation, and integrated vessel solutions. Adjacent competitor to HAV Design's sister company NES and a potential bundling threat to HAV Design's integrated equipment package revenue model.

Direct peers

• Ulstein Design & Solutions: Norwegian ship design firm headquartered in Ulsteinvik, designing specialized vessels for offshore wind, offshore oil & gas, and passenger segments. Highly comparable to HAV Design on geography, customer overlap, and vessel categories (SOVs, offshore vessels); HAV Design's new MD previously worked at Ulstein.
• Havyard Group: Norwegian maritime group with ship design, shipbuilding, and electrical systems businesses. Direct comparable to HAV Design/HAV Group structure, with historical connection — HAV Design was previously known as Havyard Design & Solutions before the spin-out.
• Salt Ship Design: Norwegian ship design consultancy offering concept, basic, and detailed design for offshore wind vessels, offshore service vessels, and specialized ships. Comparable niche peer competing with HAV Design in the same offshore wind and SOV design space.
• Multi Maritime: Norwegian ship design and engineering firm specializing in offshore wind vessels, ferries, fishing vessels, and specialized ships. Closely comparable niche ship designer competing with HAV Design for similar offshore wind and passenger/ferry contracts in the Norwegian cluster.
• Vard Design: Part of Fincantieri's Vard group, Vard Design is a major Norwegian-based ship designer focused on offshore, specialized, and cruise vessels. Comparable to HAV Design in vessel categories served (SOVs, offshore, fishing) and Norwegian design heritage; HAV Design's new MD also previously held leadership at Vard Electro.

Emerging players

• Incat Tasmania: Australian ship designer and builder specializing in fast ferries, RoPax, and increasingly zero-emission vessels (battery-electric and hydrogen). Comparable to HAV Design on ferry design and alternative-fuel transition, though geographically distant and operating from a shipyard rather than pure design house.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/havdesign

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Hav As