Construction of Watercraft - I'm deeply concerned about Meyer Werft.
Economy Minister of Lower Saxony, Olaf Lies, has shared his worries regarding the future of the struggling Meyer Werft in Emsland. Meyer Werft, which has endured several crises in the past, is currently facing one of its most difficult times, as shared by Lies during a gathering of IG Metall and the works council in front of the shipyard in Papenburg. A crowd of about 2,000 people was present for this event.
The restructuring team states that the shipyard must cover a funding gap worth 2.7 billion euros by the end of 2027, which is a major concern for all parties involved, according to Lies. Together with the state government, efforts will be made to find a way out of this crisis. However, there isn't a direct solution, as proposed by the restructurer to reduce the workforce in Papenburg by over 400 employees. The shipyard can only thrive with all of its present employees.
The shipyard finds itself in this complicated scenario due to the decrease in orders during the Corona pandemic. The traditional model, which involves financing ships under construction through new orders, is no longer functional. Additionally, the shipyard is facing adversities in ship financing. It is in a more challenging situation than its competitors in Italy and France. However, management has also made missteps, according to Lies. Already last year, the federal government and the state government provided guarantees for the shipyard.
Negotiations are expected on a daily basis, Lies said. The solution hasn't been found yet. Lies emphasized the importance of unity across party lines in this situation, urging everyone to stand together. "The core of civil shipbuilding in Germany will be lost if Meyer Werft ceases to exist," he said.
The future of the Meyer-owned Neptun shipyard in Rostock and the Finnish site in Turku are also at stake. "It's about the future of the entire Meyer Group, even though the company prefers not to use the term 'conglomerate,'" said Heiko Messerschmidt from IG Metall Coast. "There is a close partnership between the works councils of all locations, and also a close partnership with the state governments in Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern," Messerschmidt assured.
The Meyer Werft is experiencing an existential crisis despite its order books being full for the years ahead. The currently executed orders were secured well before the Corona pandemic. The contracts with the shipping companies don't include provisions for compensation for price increases due to the sharp hike in material and energy costs.
