While the future of NVL remains uncertain, the naval shipbuilder from the Lürssen Group continues to work through its order book. For the fleet service vessel contract, the start of a newbuild has now been brought forward significantly.
In the presence of representatives of the German Armed Forces and the participating shipyards of the Lürssen Group, the firing ceremony for the second Class 424 fleet service boat took place at NVL’s Peene-Werft site in Wolgast, as NVL announced.
From the point of view of the shipbuilders and the customers, the construction progress is not only on schedule, but well ahead of it. The construction of the second ship for the German Navy started “several months” earlier than planned, it is said. The reason given is: “Utilization of all existing production capacities of the Lürssen Group with increased involvement of the Peene shipyard as a production site”.
The three new ships will replace the OSTE class units in future. The approximately 130 m long Class 424 fleet service boats will serve the Bundeswehr as reconnaissance platforms for sea-based information gathering and are equipped with state-of-the-art sensor technology.
NVL wants to accelerate defence projects due to current geopolitical challenges
“Just ten months after the start of production of the first ship, we are successfully continuing the series today with the ceremonial start of firing of the second unit,” said NVL CEO Tim Wagner. This is also a response to “the need to accelerate defense projects due to the current geopolitical challenges”. “Such conversions and adjustments always require a high degree of flexibility and good and trusting cooperation between all parties involved in the project, especially with our client, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, which we are doing well with the fleet service boat.”
The Lürssen Group secured the contract in 2021. An amendment contract followed in 2023. It has not yet been finalized in which constellation or under which flag NVL will operate in the future. A few days ago, it was announced that the defense group Rheinmetall wants to take over the naval shipbuilder. However, an official agreement has not yet been reached.
