KIEL/WISMAR (dpa-AFX) - The Kiel-based submarine builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is planning to invest millions in its subsidiary shipyard in Wismar. "We are currently expecting a very low three-digit million amount, which we actually need to upgrade the site for submarine construction," company CEO Oliver Burkhard told the German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The background to this is a new German-Norwegian contract worth billions.
On Wednesday, the Bundestag's budget committee approved the construction of four more modern class 212CD submarines for the German Navy. The order volume for the German units alone amounts to 4.7 billion euros. According to TKMS, Norway has also already signaled its intention to increase the number of submarines.
Capacity utilization until the end of the 30s
Since 2019, the company has invested more than 250 million euros at its main site in Kiel alone to create additional production capacity with a new shipbuilding hall. In addition, TKMS acquired the former MV shipyard site in Wismar in 2022 in order to be able to build surface and underwater hulls there at the same time. According to previous information from the defence company, up to 1,500 new jobs could be created there at full capacity.
"Kiel has a high capacity utilization due to the existing orders," said Burkhard. His company is currently working at full capacity until the end of the 2030s.
Headquarters to remain in Kiel
TKMS will fully expand the subsidiary in Wismar into a submarine site in order to be able to deliver the boats for Germany and Norway on time, said Burkhard. The production of the first two 212CD submarines for Germany and four for Norway is therefore on schedule. Germany and Norway had concluded a joint contract in 2021 for the procurement of an initial six submarines of the new class. Germany now wants to order four more, Norway two more./akl/DP/jha