Habeck aims to intensify maritime shipbuilding support through additional government subsidies.
After the government bailout of Meyer Werft, Green Party politician Robert Habeck suggested potential future political support for the shipbuilding industry. He stated, "We'll need to beef up the maritime shipbuilding sector in various other aspects as well." During a meeting at the Papenburg-based Meyer Werft, he emphasized that this company, leader in the global cruise ship market, needs to be preserved. "This particular segment we can't afford to lose," he reiterated.
He highlighted the significance of multiple aspects for coastal areas. "It's not just any shipyard," he noted. He underscored the importance of the innovative Papenburg site, home to training facilities, for numerous other industries. Moreover, the shipyard will eventually contribute to the creation of offshore transformer platforms for wind energy. These platforms are crucial elements of the energy transition and should ideally be constructed within Germany or Europe, not in China.
Last week, the federal government and Lower Saxony completed the rescue of the struggling shipyard. Regrettably, this intervention resulted in the loss of approximately 340 out of the 3400 jobs, a situation the government aims to manage as responsibly as possible. Together, the federal government and Lower Saxony are investing 400 million euros in equity and temporarily acquiring around 80 percent ownership in the shipyard. Additionally, the public sector is guaranteeing bank loans around 2 billion euros. By 2028, the Meyer family will hold roughly 20 percent of the shipyard, maintaining a sort of buy-back option. This move aims to secure the shipyard's stability at least until 2028.
Despite having sufficient orders, the company relies on banks for pre-financing, which have recently been reluctant to provide this financing. As a result, the government has now stepped in with capital and guarantees.
The government's intervention at Meyer Werft, including the investment of 400 million euros and temporary ownership, is crucial for preserving the leading cruise ship builder, Meyer shipyard. Habeck further emphasized the importance of this shipyard due to its innovative training facilities and potential for offshore transformer platform construction in the energy transition.
