The Fassmer shipyard in Berne has been a successful and internationally recognised shipbuilding company for five generations and is a fascinating example of entrepreneurial perseverance, technical innovation and family continuity. The history of the shipyard begins in 1850 with the boatbuilder Johannes Fassmer. Founded as a one-man business in Berne-Bardenfleth in the Wesermarsch district of Lower Saxony, the company initially built small wooden...

On 5 September 2025, the shipyard celebrated its anniversary with a ceremony and guests from politics, business and the maritime industry. The company presented its entrepreneurial milestones, technical pioneering work and the transformation of a medium-sized company into an international speciality shipbuilder. "Sometimes the sea is as smooth as glass, sometimes you fight against the...

15 beer tables are part of the standard equipment for every volunteer fire brigade in Bavaria. The average lifespan of such a beer table is 30 years. In the days when the navy was still responsible for its own armour, the service life of a frigate was also calculated at around 30 years. Since the magic number of destroyers...

Since the RGM/UGM-109B was decommissioned in 1994, all of the US Navy's Tomahawk cruise missiles have been designed to engage land targets. The Tomahawk Block Va is now intended to close this capability gap. Since the introduction of the Tomahawk cruise missile in 1983, different variants of the weapon system have been developed. The latest configuration is designated RGM/UGM-109M Tomahawk Block V....

Canada begins construction of the new River class. This is the Canadian Navy's largest and most expensive procurement programme since the end of the Second World War. Ottawa wants to acquire a total of 15 River class destroyers to replace the four Iroquois destroyers (already decommissioned) and the 12 River class frigates still in service.

Other nations already have hypersonic missiles. Now they are also included in the specifications for future German air defence units. Hypersonic missiles have been on the radar of air defence forces at least since Russia deployed the Kinschal cruise missile in the Ukraine war. They are among the most advanced and threatening military technologies. Hypersonic missiles challenge all existing missile defence shields with...

Renk supports NATO countries and their most important allies with its cutting-edge technology. CEO Alexander Sagel sets four priorities for the future of the company. An interview by Burghard Lindhorst. Mr Sagel, you have been at the helm of the Renk Group since February. You have barely been in office when the security situation has deteriorated further. Was...

Friesland Kabel has the maritime expertise for this What - the reader may ask - is so exciting about cables? A triviality, you might think, because we have several transmission products for signals and energy in our hands every day. You get what you need from the DIY store....

The Defiant, a prototype of a potentially armed, medium-sized unmanned surface vehicle, is undergoing several months of sea trials this spring. In future, the boats will be able to perform a variety of different tasks autonomously. USX-1 was developed on behalf of the Pentagon's technology agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa). The programme...

Efficiency and a down-to-earth approach form the basis for the success of the Peene shipyard. As part of the Lürssen Group, the company is an important partner to the navy. "We are a compact shipyard," says Harald Jaekel, Managing Director of Peene-Werft in Wolgast. After a warm welcome in his office, which is decorated with model ships and personal mementos on all the walls...

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