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LTH-Baas: integrated technical responsibility, from engineering to commissioning
As military shipbuilding programmes gather pace, shipyards are looking for partners who can do more than simply provide manpower. LTH-Baas aims to take responsibility for complete technical work packages, from engineering through to commissioning.
- Technical coordination helps anticipate installation constraints from the design stage.
- Effective production management ensures the delivery of technical work packages.
- LTH-Baas takes responsibility for integrating complex systems.
© LTH-Baas
Military shipbuilding is experiencing strong growth, with new frigates, corvettes and other naval vessels being developed across Europe, North America and other allied countries, while existing fleets undergo modernisation. Shipyards face the challenge of coordinating thousands of engineering, procurement, production and installation activities, often in confined spaces and to exacting quality standards. The growing number of parties involved adds another layer of complexity. This is where LTH-Baas aims to make its mark.
“Our goal is simple: to take full responsibility for a defined technical work package and deliver it,” says Anton Maljugin, CEO of LTH-Baas. “A shipyard shouldn’t have to manage five different contractors to get a single system up and running. We can bring together engineering, procurement, prefabrication, installation, project management and commissioning under one roof,” he adds.
End-to-end responsibility
Founded in 1934, LTH-Baas has grown into an international maritime company specialising in shipbuilding and ship repair, with hundreds of permanent skilled employees. Its expertise covers heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), pipework and electrical systems, as well as engineering, procurement, prefabrication, installation and commissioning. Originally established in Estonia, the company does more than supply personnel: it manages technical projects from start to finish.
“There will always be a need for additional labour in shipbuilding, but that is not the competitive advantage we want to build our naval business on,” says Anton Maljugin. “Our added value lies in taking responsibility for complex scopes of work on behalf of our customers and managing them as integrated projects,” he adds. Engineering is now geared towards production from the outset, incorporating 3D modelling, routing and prefabrication.
“Engineers need to understand the practical realities of shipboard construction. When engineering and production operate separately, problems are often identified too late. That’s why we aim to incorporate practical experience from the outset,” he explains.
LTH-Baas also works with specialist equipment manufacturers (OEMs), integrating their products into the vessel. “We’re very comfortable working with OEMs,” says the CEO. “They provide specialist technology and equipment. We bring naval engineering expertise, production planning, installation capabilities and the ability to manage project delivery. Ultimately, the customer needs all these elements to come together as a single operational system on board.”
International reach
LTH-Baas deploys teams across Estonia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland, the United States and Singapore, combining international expertise with a local presence tailored to each programme’s requirements. “Our approach is to bring proven naval expertise to a programme and then establish a local delivery organisation that meets the customer’s needs,” explains Anton Maljugin.
Prefabrication and digital tools support this approach by allowing some of the work to be done off the ship and helping the teams anticipate potential difficulties. “These tools are invaluable for anticipating problems, making informed decisions and accurately tracking project progress. But a digital model cannot build a ship. You still need experienced teams and effective project management to ensure that installation work is carried out successfully on board,” he says.
Already well established in Europe, LTH-Baas is expanding into the United States and other allied countries. “Military shipbuilding is a national endeavour, but the industrial challenge is international,” notes Anton Maljugin. “With shipyards under pressure to build more ships and build them faster, experienced partners have a key role to play.”
LTH-Baas also applies its expertise to modernisation, with major refit projects complementing its newbuild activities. The company aims to help shipyards increase their capacity without having to coordinate multiple contractors. Its approach is to manage complete technical work packages and take direct responsibility for their delivery. “Our discussions with shipyards are not primarily about manpower, but about the overall technical scope we can handle,” concludes Anton Maljugin.
- Linda Verhaeghe
