Modernisation at the Blohm+Voss NVL site

To get more young people interested in a career in shipbuilding, the industry is working hard to promote its image and recruit young talent. In the annual report of the VSM (Verband für Schiffbau und Meerestechnik e. V. - German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association), recruiting young talent is a central concern. Good training is also part of the attractiveness of the industry. And this is where the NVL has now set an exampleAt the Blohm+Voss NVL site in Hamburg, around half a million euros has been invested in modernising the training centre.

The young trainees from Blohm+Voss, the neighbouring Norderwerft shipyard and Lürssen Yachts & Refit Services receive qualified training in various apprenticeships at Steinwerder. "For us at NVL, promoting young talent and securing skilled labour are fundamental building blocks for successful shipbuilding. By investing in qualified training, we are not only emphasising our responsibility towards young talent, it is also a commitment to the location and to long-term competitiveness in a technologically demanding industry," said Nils Moser, Managing Director of Blohm+Voss, at the opening ceremony in the presence of representatives from NORDMETALL, the Association of the Metal and Electrical Industry.

After around four months of conversion work, the total area has increased by 450 to 1,300 square metres and the trainees now have an extended vice and machining workshop at their disposal. Capacity has also been created for plant mechanics. The company has also invested in several state-of-the-art turning and milling machines. "With the expanded and modernised training centre, we are creating ideal conditions for the practical, up-to-date training of young professionals in shipbuilding. We now have additional resources to train up to 36 trainees and dual students at the same time and optimally prepare our young skilled workers for the demands of industrial production," says Head of Training Knut Marquardt. The Blohm+Voss training centre is also where trainees from the Norderwerft shipyard, which also belongs to NVL, and Lürssen Yachts & Refit Services, which is based in Steinwerder, receive their basic training.

The "Maritime Future" initiative shows just how urgent the issue is throughout the industry. This neutral platform, in which the German Maritime Centre, the German Shipowners' Association (VDR), the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS), the Central Association of German Shipbrokers (ZVDS) and the VSM are involved, is an industry-wide campaign for young talent for maritime degree courses and apprenticeships.