Oma Baatbyggeri

Oma Baatbyggeri is a Norwegian shipyard based in Leirvik on the island of Stord, founded in 1909 by Ola Oma. The company is family-owned and has built vessels for over a century, evolving from traditional wooden boatbuilding into a leading specialist in lightweight aluminium catamarans and high-speed passenger ferries. Its core focus since 1995 has been the design and construction of aluminium catamarans, and it has delivered more than 50 high-speed vessels worldwide. The yard operates through two entities: the new-building yard Oma Baatbyggeri AS and the service and maintenance yard Oma Slipp & Mekaniske Verksted AS, founded in 1981, which handles vessels up to approximately 50 metres. Together they offer a one-stop shop for design, engineering, construction, modifications and maintenance. Oma's product range includes fast ferries, passenger-cargo catamarans, zero-emission car ferries, crew transfer vessels (CTVs) for offshore personnel, and sightseeing boats. The company emphasises technological development, seaworthiness, low weight and energy efficiency, and its fast ferries are among the most energy-efficient in the industry measured in kWh per passenger kilometre. The shipyard has built notable vessels such as MS «Tideekspress», MS «Tyrving» (2007), MS «Vingtor» (2012), MS «Vetlefjord», MS «Admiralen», MS «Tedno» (2007), MS «Frøya», MS «Fjorddronningen» (2019) and MS «Fjordprinsen» (2019). Recent deliveries include Hull No. 553 M/F «Seiland» in June 2026 and Hull No. 554 M/S «Rygerlys» in September 2026, as well as a hybrid sightseeing boat for Rødne in March 2026. The company remains privately held and continues to operate from its historic base in Leirvik.

Oma Baatbyggeri was founded in 1909 by Ola Oma (1880–1967) on the island of Stord, at Leirvik, a central point for communications north to Bergen and south to Haugesund and Stavanger. Ola Oma had emigrated to the United States around the turn of the 20th century, where he worked at a shipyard on Lake Superior and later established his own boatyard in Grays Harbor, south of Seattle. This experience gave him insight into industrial boatbuilding methods, new materials and organised yard operations, which he brought back to Norway. The enterprise was characterised from the outset by solid workmanship, practical innovation and vessels adapted to demanding coastal conditions. Ola Oma led the company through its formative decades. In 1956, the yard began building vessels in aluminium, developing long-standing expertise in lightweight, high-performance construction. In 1981, Oma Slipp & Mekaniske Verksted AS was founded as a subsidiary specialising in repair and maintenance of vessels up to 50 metres, operating two slipways including an indoor slipway for year-round operations. Since 1995, the company's core focus has been the design and construction of aluminium catamarans. Over the decades, Oma has delivered more than 50 high-speed vessels worldwide, including notable ships such as MS «Tideekspress», MS «Tyrving» (2007), MS «Vingtor» (2012), MS «Vetlefjord», MS «Admiralen», MS «Tedno» (2007), MS «Frøya», MS «Fjorddronningen» (2019) and MS «Fjordprinsen» (2019). The yard has also built many passenger-cargo catamarans since 2001. In recent years, Oma has continued to innovate, delivering zero-emission car ferries powered by electric propulsion, crew transfer vessels for offshore personnel, and hybrid sightseeing boats. Recent deliveries include Hull No. 553 M/F «Seiland» in June 2026 and Hull No. 554 M/S «Rygerlys» in September 2026, as well as a hybrid sightseeing boat for Rødne in March 2026. The company remains family-owned and operates from its historic base in Leirvik, Stord.

• 2026

  Delivered Hull No. 553 M/F «Seiland» (June) and Hull No. 554 M/S «Rygerlys» (September), and a hybrid sightseeing boat for Rødne (March).

• 2019

  MS «Fjorddronningen» and MS «Fjordprinsen» were built.

• 2012

  MS «Vingtor» was built.

• 2007

  MS «Tyrving» and MS «Tedno» were built.

• 2001

  Began delivering passenger-cargo catamarans.

• 1995

  Core focus shifted to the design and construction of aluminium catamarans.

• 1981

  Oma Slipp & Mekaniske Verksted AS was founded as a subsidiary for repair and maintenance.

• 1956

  The yard began building vessels in aluminium.

• 1909

  Ola Oma founded the boatbuilding business on Stord, Norway.

Leading specialist in the design and construction of lightweight aluminium catamarans and energy-efficient high-speed vessels.

• Fast ferries

  More than 50 high speed vessels delivered worldwide.

• Passenger-cargo catamarans

  Many passenger-cargo catamarans delivered since 2001.

• Car ferries

  Zero emission car ferries powered by electric propulsion.

• Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV)

  CTVs for transporting personnel offshore.

• Sightseeing boats

  Comfort, safety, and panoramic views.

1. 1Forside - Oma Baatbyggerioma.no
2. 2History - Oma Baatbyggerioma.no
3. 3Services - Oma Baatbyggerioma.no
4. 4Products - Oma Baatbyggerioma.no
5. 5Oma Baatbyggeri - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Oma Baatbyggeri - Wikipedia (Norwegian)no.wikipedia.org