Shipbuilding in heavy seas

Despite many difficulties, there are still a number of highly qualified repair yards in Germany. Together, they ensure the operational readiness of the navy.

The insolvency of the MV Werften shipyards in Wismar, Rostock, Stralsund and Bremerhaven as well as the Pella Sietas shipyard in Hamburg and the Nobiskrug shipyard in Rendsburg have once again highlighted the difficult situation in which shipbuilding in Germany has found itself for years. The construction of large merchant ships such as container freighters and tankers has completely migrated to Asia. German shipyards have therefore focussed on technically sophisticated niche products. These include cruise ships, yachts and specialised vessels. Competitors from China or South Korea have now also become active in many of these segments, further increasing the pressure in Germany. The traditional Hamburg shipyard Blohm+Voss, the cruise ship builder Meyer Werft in Papenburg and Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft have been forced to cut jobs and introduce short-time working due to underutilisation and a lack of orders. Added to this is the coronavirus pandemic, which has exacerbated the loss of substance in the shipbuilding industry, primarily through job losses and the resulting loss of expertise.