Celebrating 25 years of Vard Design: from bold beginnings to tomorrow’s solutions
In 2000, a small, three-person office was established to support sales operations in Aker Yards with technical insight and design expertise. Today, 25 years later, Vard Design stands as a globally recognized design house for highly specialized vessels – driving innovation across markets such as energy, adventure, and seafood. Since its beginning, Vard Design has delivered nearly 280 vessel designs, each tailored to meet the evolving needs of our customers and the demands of the sea.
26. June 2025
As the company celebrates this important milestone, we sat down with the General Manager of Vard Design, Kjell Morten Urke, to reflect on the journey so far - and to look ahead to what the future holds.
A journey defined by growth, adaptability, and impact
In the early days, Vard Design operated primarily as a support function to the company’s engineering department, providing technical input to sales and project teams. But it didn’t take long before the team began to take on full design responsibility. By 2004, the first complete designs were delivered – and from there, the development accelerated. What started as a modest support role quickly became a cornerstone of VARD’s value chain and innovation capacity.
The evolution of Vard Design has been marked by a series of bold moves and major milestones. From the first-ever design - newbuild 142 for Tidewater - to becoming a core part of the VARD value chain, the journey has been defined by adaptability, technical excellence, and a drive to push boundaries.
Cutting edge design
"We grew rapidly in the mid-2000s, taking significant market share in the offshore support vessel segment. The post-2014 oil crisis demanded a new approach - and we responded by pioneering expedition cruise vessel design, proving our ability to adapt and innovate under pressure."
Over the years, Vard Design has contributed to some of the most sophisticated vessels in the maritime world. Many of them award-winning, such as Skandi Africa, Prysmian Monna Lisa and Skandi Aker. These vessels represent the cutting edge of design, engineering and integration.
Designing with purpose
While tools, markets and technologies have evolved, one principle has remained constant:
"We design with a deep understanding of our customers’ operational realities. It’s about more than just innovation - it’s about designing vessels that are truly fit for purpose.”
Today, Vard Design’s work reflects a holistic and integrated approach. Modern vessels must balance performance, sustainability, crew welfare, and lifecycle optimization. That’s why the company has embraced digital tools, systems thinking, and simulation to develop solutions that meet the growing complexity of maritime operations.
This philosophy is anchored in VARD’s overarching mission: to enable sustainable business at sea.
We design with a deep understanding of our customers’ operational realities. It’s about more than just innovation - it’s about designing vessels that are truly fit for purpose.
Kjell Morten Urke, General Manager Vard Design
Overcoming challenges through collaboration and craftsmanship
Navigating 25 years in the ever-changing maritime landscape hasn’t been without challenges. Market cycles, regulatory shifts, and rapid technological change have all tested the organization’s resilience. Yet, Vard Design has consistently emerged stronger - thanks to its people, culture, and ability to adapt.
“Our greatest strengths lie in our culture of collaboration and craftsmanship. When times get tough, our teams come together across disciplines and locations. It’s this spirit that has helped us stay ahead, both technically and commercially.”
Diversifying the company’s portfolio, strengthening internal competence, and aligning closely with VARD’s integrated value chain have been key strategies. And attracting top talent - while keeping them engaged - has been made possible by creating a workplace where innovation and growth are part of daily life.
Shaping the future of maritime innovation
Perhaps Vard Design’s most significant contribution to the maritime industry is its ability to translate complex operational demands into elegant, sustainable vessel solutions.
Whether through next-generation offshore wind service vessels, zero-emission-ready expedition ships, or advanced aquaculture platforms, the company has played a defining role in reshaping what’s possible at sea.
By collaborating with the rest of VARD’s value chain, we keep vessel designs both innovative and cost-efficient. That balance is critical to enabling new markets and sustainable business models.
Kjell Morten Urke, General Manager Vard Design
Looking ahead: designing the next 25 years
With a strong foundation built over a quarter-century, Vard Design is setting its sights firmly on the future. The next chapter will be shaped by bold ambitions: to lead the transition to zero-emission shipping, explore new frontiers in maritime segments, and continue nurturing a workplace where innovation thrives.
“We will build on our heritage while remaining agile and open to change - ensuring that the next 25 years are as pioneering as the first.”
At the heart of that journey is a belief in people - designers, engineers, and specialists across VARD’s global network who bring every vessel concept to life.
Vard Design’s 25-year milestone is not just a celebration of the past. It’s a reaffirmation of the company’s purpose and potential - to keep delivering tailor-made, future-ready solutions for an evolving world at sea.
