Germans create new ship repair alliance

From the start of the year Rickmers Lloyd and the Ship Technology Division of MWB have operated jointly as German Dry Docks under the management of Rickmers MD Uwe Beck and senior MWB official Detlef Nünke with an existing workforce of about 100.

Beck said “our targets are increased efficiency, more flexibility, bigger dock capacities and thus better performance at fair market prices”. A statement also said the move opened up new opportunities for business and would be to the advantage of customers.

German Dry Docks boasts 4 docks of its own at its existing two Kaiserhafen locations and also has access to two further big docks at neighbouring Lloyd Werft with which Rickmers and MWB already co-operate. The six docks are of up to 38 m internal width, 335 m length and 11.5 m draught above keel blocks.

All three yards are majority-owned by Dieter Petram and so the pooling of repair resources is being seen as a logical step towards a restructured shipbuilding hub in Bremerhaven.

MWB’s traditional ship drive and energy technology sectors, including increasingly important energy efficiency and emissions reduction business, are not part of the new repair company. They continue to operate separately, under current Chairman Jürgen Gloystein with a workforce of 145.