Merima creates striking marine interior solutions. The company has made its name by handling complex, multi-part projects, establishing a legacy of trust through its proven approach. Now, it is launching a new brand. Hannah Barnett spoke to CEO Mikko Mäkiranta and Head of Newbuild Finland Juuso Normio to learn more.
Over the decades, Merima has evolved from being an exceptional project executor into a lifecycle partner for the most demanding shipbuilding environments. The company has exciting momentum and is seeing lots of opportunities, following the announcement of a rebrand at the end of summer 2026, under the slogan Merima Experience. More than just a new logo, this is about refreshing the entire identity of the business and re-establishing its company values.
“The Merima Experience unites the customer, employee and supplier,” said Mikko Mäkiranta, CEO. “We do not want to just deliver a product. We want to deliver an overall experience, one that represents who we are. The company has never had this kind of real strong brand identity before. Internally, our employees are very excited too. We are all looking to the future.”
Going back
The Merima family business was founded in 1987. The initial focus was largely on newbuild interior fit-outs for cruise ships across Finland and Germany. In recent years, the company began an expansion strategy, scaling into France and beyond. In the refurbishment market, however, Merima has been working globally for some time.
“We are a rapidly growing company; we work with cruise ships and shipyards very closely, offering a whole life cycle service,” explained Mr Mäkiranta. “The important thing is that we are not afraid of taking on demanding projects, which means assuming responsibility for everything from the very early stages to the last bit of aftercare as well.”
“What we do at Merima is much more than standard turnkey work,” Juuso Normio, Head of Newbuild, Finland, said. “The biggest value that we bring to our clients is flexibility across the whole value chain, starting from the supporting architectural design and offering support all the way until delivery.
“It is not only that we are playing a part in the building phase. It is that we are making a dream come true for a customer. Whatever they want, we will come up with the plans and the proposals on how to achieve that. In a nutshell, we are really pushing the limit on what turnkey can be.”
The company is one of the largest in the industry with close to 190 employees, plus many more partners and subcontractors – around 1,000 people around the world can be working for Merima at one time during peak demand. To operate on this scale, the company must be well supported. There are two offices in Finland, made up of the HQ and in-house production site in Helsinki and an office in Turku, a further two in Germany, one in Miami, Florida, and the new one in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Meanwhile, a state-of-the-art 4,000sqm logistic hub is currently under construction in Turku, on the southwest coast of Finland. The area brings together pioneers from the maritime sector and offers access to first-class logistical connections. The new site is being positioned as an investment into the operational efficiency of the future and is located in a new maritime industry business park, near the Turku shipyard. By chance, the facility is due to open in Merima’s fortieth year of 2027.
“The opening of the logistics hub is definitely something that I am looking forward to – it will give us a firm competitive advantage,” said Mr Normio. “It is a huge investment from our company and also a strategic statement for shipbuilding in Turku. It shows that we want to be here for a long time and to maintain strong partnerships with shipyards and ship owners across the sector. I think it will be game-changing for us.”
Perfecting projects
Ultimately, project management is at the company’s core. For Merima, this means working with customers through each project stage and pushing boundaries rather than being wedded to traditional methods. What the company offers varies depending on whether the project is a newbuild, refurbishment, in-house production or consultation.
“A strong part of our process is that we are leading and guiding the whole supply chain,” explained Mr Normio. “On newbuild projects, we make sure that everybody follows the same schedule and pushes in the same direction. This is one of our major values – we do not only take care of our own business, but we also take care of the whole process and work together to get each project over the finish line.”
One only needs to look at the range of projects the company has been part of to understand that tailored solutions are part of the Merima DNA. The amount of experience within the business means that staff can often help customers to develop ideas for what they would like to see on a specific vessel.
“The most demanding projects are not always the ones with the most difficult designs,” Mr Normio said. “What is often more challenging is the timeframe – or that we need to change something at the last minute and do it quickly, while ensuring the ship is delivered on time.
“We often find that an owner comes away very happy, having gone through this process with us. They know they can rely on Merima for our project management services. We are relentlessly committed and working with a solution-obsessed mindset.”
Among this raft of impressive projects, Merima was responsible for Royal Caribbean International’s Aquadome, Royal Theatre, outer decks and waterpark on board the famous ‘Legend of the Seas’ vessel. Merima produced steel-to-steel turnkey for a combined area total of 21 000 square metres. The company proudly delivered this extremely challenging project on time.
The delivery of the world’s largest sailing yacht, Orient Express Corinthian, marks a further major milestone in Merima’s expansion into the French shipbuilding market. The vessel was built entirely in France, and its stunning architecture is the work of the Maxime d’Angeac studio. Merima has established a local team in France and is continuing to strengthen its role in the French shipbuilding industry through long-term partnerships and local collaboration.
A large portion of the materials used throughout the different ships is produced in-house at Merima’s production facility complemented by the company’s extensive network of partners and suppliers who provided innovative solutions to complex challenges. This collaborative approach has always proved highly effective, enabling the company to deliver everything on time and to the highest standards.
The impact of partnership
Indeed, as Merima works closely with customers, it also does the same with its suppliers. The company has always targeted long-term partnerships, and those that can grow and be integrated within the business. With a notably robust and diverse supply chain, Merima usually has the perfect supplier in mind for any specific customer request, no matter how niche it may be.
“Quite often, we will know a supplier that is very strong for something, because we will have worked together before,” Mr Normio said. “That is a benefit experienced by our whole supply chain when they work with us.”
“We offer specialist insight that could be from a design, material or equipment point of view, but ultimately I think we’re only as strong as the whole ecosystem,” Mr Mäkiranta added. “We are not only looking for that supplier and subcontractor kind of relationship. We are trying to create value in the whole chain, all the way through to the end customer.
“We have had very good results so far, and we will keep pushing. This is what we have always done.”
In the same way, as Merima moves forward with its new brand, many things will stay the same. Namely, the company will continue to focus on creating value for all parties while investing in the skills of its workforce, customers and suppliers. Whatever challenges must be navigated will be dealt with accordingly.
“I do find working on demanding projects very motivating,” Mr Normio reflected. “Yes, they might be difficult, but there is a valuable opportunity to work on such a wide range of projects. And every time another is completed, there is a collaborative feeling of ‘yes, we made it.’ We have a sense that the whole supply chain and ecosystem are bringing together the finished product, not just Merima. That is something that is really inspiring for me.”
“The future is very exciting,” Mr Mäkiranta said, in conclusion. “Particularly the thought of moving forward together with our partners, as a collaborative effort.”