Once Upon a Time
A Norwegian–Latvian group built to restart capability in Riga—combining disciplined leadership with efficient production and reliable delivery.
Prelude
Latvia has long been a maritime nation. With Riga’s role as a Baltic trade port developing over centuries, the country built deep competence around navigation, port operations, and marine craftsmanship.
By the late 19th and early 20th century, Latvia had substantial dock and ship-repair infrastructure along its coastline, and industrial shipyard activity in Riga became firmly established.
Through the Soviet era and up to the 1980s, Latvian yards and ports continued to support commercial shipping and fleet maintenance—keeping practical shipbuilding know-how, metalwork, and marine engineering culture alive.
In the decades after the 1980s, parts of Latvia’s shipbuilding industry faced a tough reality: heavy capital structures, volatile demand, and a regional market that changed faster than many yards could adapt. As orders declined, facilities closed or went quiet, and a proud industrial tradition gradually lost momentum.
Yet the fundamentals never disappeared — the know-how, the craftsmanship, the infrastructure, and the strategic logic of Riga as a maritime gateway to Northern Europe.
Restarting a Tradition
In June 2023, the founders set out an ambitious plan: restart professional shipbuilding activity in Riga, not by trying to recreate the past, but by building on what remained — the “fallen stars”: dormant capacity, experienced specialists, and an industrial culture worth reviving.
In the search for the right partners to bring the idea to life, they connected with a newly established marine partner in Norway.
That collaboration became the beginning of Gannet Marine Group (GMG) — a Norwegian–Latvian group created to deliver modern vessels with the discipline, documentation, and reliability professional operators require.
Timeline
Pre-1980s
Latvia develops deep maritime competence through navigation, ports, and industrial shipbuilding around Riga.
1980s–2020
Market shifts and declining orders reduce activity; yards consolidate, facilities close, and momentum gradually declines.
2020
Latvian shipbuilding activity goes quiet—capability remains, but momentum fades.
June 2023
Founders launch an ambition plan to restart professional shipbuilding activity in Riga.
2023–Today
Capabilities secured: shipbuilding expertise, workforce, partners, and operational structure across Norway and Latvia.
Now
GMG delivers mission-ready vessels—combining disciplined leadership with efficient production and dependable lifecycle support.
Riga — Where Craft Meets Capability
Since day one, GMG has actively secured shipbuilding expertise and a highly skilled workforce.
Our yard and teams are positioned where the Daugava River meets the Gulf of Riga — a natural hub for logistics, testing, and access to the Baltic and wider European waters.
Riga gives us a strong industrial platform for efficient production and predictable delivery — supported by a culture of hands-on engineering and practical problem-solving.
Norway — Leadership, Sales, and a Maritime Mindset
GMG’s leadership and commercial operations are anchored in Norway, with a base in Fredrikstad — a city with deep maritime roots and a long-standing relationship with the sea.
Fredrikstad’s identity has been shaped by ship traffic, mechanical craftsmanship, and marine industry along the waterways that connect the city to the Oslofjord and international routes.
Over generations, the region has developed a strong tradition of maritime competence — from practical seamanship and boatbuilding culture to modern marine engineering and operational know-how. It is a place where maritime work is not a concept — it is part of the local DNA.
This Norwegian foundation strengthens GMG’s customer interface: structured project management, clear communication, and a strong understanding of compliance, documentation, and lifecycle support.
Ready when you are
Gannet Marine Group combines Norwegian leadership with Latvian shipbuilding capability to deliver robust, mission-ready vessels and dependable lifecycle support.
If you have an upcoming requirement—or simply want an early conversation—we are ready to support you.