Chancellor Scholz has got his way: a Chinese state-owned company may acquire a stake in Germany's critical maritime infrastructure. Is the economic opportunity worth the risk of exerting influence? Contrary to the reservations of all six ministries involved, especially the lead ministry for economic affairs and the Foreign Office, as well as warnings from Brussels and the intelligence services, the...
Captain Thorsten Bobzin has handed over command of the naval aviators after four years. He looks back on an eventful time between system launches, recruitment worries and capability gaps. After four years at the helm of the naval aviation command, Thorsten Bobzin draws an important conclusion: "Thank God we only had one aircraft accident, which...
Cosco Shipping, the shipping arm of China's largest maritime conglomerate and currently number four among the world's largest container liner shipping companies, is clearly aiming for the top. According to Chinese statements, the company aims to become the world's largest container shipping company. A newbuilding programme worth 4.9 billion dollars is planned for 32 ships of different size classes...
In the search for alternatives to merchant ship orders, which are almost impossible to acquire, and the lack of orders for government and naval vessels, some German shipyards have created another mainstay for themselves by building yachts and, where possible, mega-yachts. Here are two examples: Meyer Werft, for example, had as...
There are increasing calls from the two key pillars of the German maritime industry, shipbuilding and shipping, for more support from politicians. IG Metall Küste, for example, expects the federal government to ensure that the announced orders for research and naval vessels provide work at the shipyards as quickly as possible and...
With the average age of their mine countermeasure boats at around 30 years, most European navies are replacing existing weapon systems with a mix of mother ships and unmanned plug-and-play systems to manage a full detect-to-engage cycle. The navies of Northern, Western and Southern Europe continue to receive the majority of funding for new build programmes, while the Eastern European navies,...
In recent decades, China has continuously upgraded its navy with strategic foresight. Its democratic neighbour India, on the other hand, has largely failed to build up its maritime capabilities. Now could be the time to change course. The Indians, who have been shocked by the recent images of Chinese navy ships in the harbours of...
After four years of planning and construction and an investment of eleven million euros, the Federal Maritime Police have put a new training centre into operation in Bad Bramstedt. Commanders and junior nautical officers can now train on four virtual ship bridges and experience all weather, current and maritime traffic situations realistically. From October...
The creation of the S.M.S. FRAUENLOB was largely due to a Berlin "women's association". In 1860, the schooner sank in a storm off Japan. Everything had actually started quite well. After the need for a navy to protect the German coastline became apparent during the First Schleswig-Holstein War, various patriotic institutions had successfully campaigned for the...
Around a year after filing for insolvency, the oldest German shipbuilding company still in operation, the Pella Sietas shipyard in Hamburg-Neuenfelde, is now nearing the end of its sell-off. The largest movable part of the insolvency estate, the 200 metre long floating dock, was recently secured by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft. Tugboats have now towed the steel colossus through...
English 
German