Davit specialist Vestdavit acquired by Fairbanks Morse Defense
Fairbanks Morse Defense has acquired Vestdavit, a leading supplier of davits and advanced handling systems, from its four owners for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition of the davit specialist company strengthens FMD’s position as a global provider of mission-critical maritime equipment and enhances its ability to deliver fully integrated product and service capabilities to naval and commercial operators worldwide.
Based in Bergen, Norway, Vestdavit was founded in 1982 by Atle Kalve and Jan Sverre Røsstad, later joined by Rolf Andreas Wigand (CEO since 2006) and Ove Røssland, and has supplied over 2,200 davit systems delivered to naval and offshore operators. The company pioneered dual-point lifting systems, automated boat-handling technologies, and advanced launch and recovery systems (LARS) for unmanned surface and sub-surface vessels, supplying NATO navies as well as offshore energy operators worldwide from a manufacturing facility in Poland.
These innovations are critical for the U.S. Navy’s planned Large Unmanned Surface Vessels (LUSVs) and the Large Unmanned Undersea Vessels (UUVs).
The acquisition provides Vestdavit with a stronger commercial platform to drive growth and expand globally across its core naval and offshore energy markets.
Following the acquisition, Wigand will continue in his role as CEO.
Wigand said:
“Companies evolve over time, and having seen tremendous growth in recent years, we believe the time is right for Vestdavit to become part of a larger system that will strengthen our future development.
“As part of Fairbanks Morse Defense, we are well-positioned to expand geographically within the global naval segment, strengthen our aftersales capabilities, and access the resources we need to pursue long-term growth.”
Fairbanks Morse Defense is a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management and provides OEM parts, turnkey services, and advanced technologies for the maritime defense sector.
Mutual customers include the U.S. Navy, UK Royal Navy, and the Canadian Coast Guard. Through Vestdavit, Fairbanks Morse Defense will also expand its presence among NATO fleets such as the French Navy, the Italian Navy, the German Navy, the Royal Netherlands and Belgian Navies, the Finnish Navy, and the Norwegian Navy.
Fairbanks Morse Defense will add Vestdavit’s manufacturing facility in Poland and service centers in the Netherlands and Seattle, Washington to its operational network. Vestdavit customers will gain access to FMD’s full portfolio of engines, motors, valves, ventilation systems, water purification and treatment systems, and other OEM technologies.
The company also plans to leverage Vestdavit’s innovation and established brand to strengthen after-sales support and extend its reach into new markets.
Steve Pykett, CEO of Fairbanks Morse Defense, commented:
“Fairbanks Morse Defense and Vestdavit share a longstanding commitment to providing mission-critical equipment for navies that are protecting the freedom of the seas.
“Vestdavit’s advanced handling technologies complement our existing portfolio while broadening our OEM and service capabilities. In turn, Vestdavit will benefit from our worldwide support infrastructure, ensuring customers receive the highest standard of service wherever they operate.
“Vestdavit has earned its reputation as a trusted name in advanced davit technology. By joining forces, we can build on this legacy, broaden support for naval and offshore customers, and ensure Vestdavit’s innovative solutions continue to set the benchmark for reliability and performance in boat-handling systems.”
Vestdavit’s offering now joins that of Welin Lambie, the UK-based davit manufacturer acquired by Fairbanks Morse Defense in 2023.
This transaction follows Fairbanks Morse Defense’s acquisition of the Rolls-Royce Naval Propulsors business earlier in 2025, which restored the Bird-Johnson brand to propellers manufactured in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and added waterjets produced in Walpole, Massachusetts.
Wigand concluded:
“Having seen tremendous growth in recent years, we are now embarking on a new chapter by integrating Vestdavit into a larger entity that can provide the resources to realize our ambitions. The new owners have a long-term perspective and are committed to developing Vestdavit further as a standalone business while executing on our existing strategy.”
“With strong historical results and high future potential, the time is right for Vestdavit to become part of a larger system. Together, we will consolidate our position and develop our davit offering on a secure footing to capture the opportunities ahead.”