The German state of Lower Saxony is investing around €10 million in shipbuilding for the first time as part of a co-funding initiative with the federal government. Meyer Werft, Abeking & Rasmussen, Fassmer and the Lürssen sites are among the beneficiaries.
Under the federal funding programme “Innovative Shipbuilding Secures Competitive Jobs”, Lower Saxony contributes roughly €7 million annually to support innovation measures in the state’s shipbuilding sector. The programme is aimed at shipyards and their subsidiaries.
According to the state government in Hanover, this contribution ensures that all federal funds earmarked for shipbuilding are fully utilised. The state’s share covers one third of the eligible costs for shipbuilding innovations — without it, the federal funds would be forfeited.
For the first time, the government has confirmed an investment of around €10 million this year “due to the high innovative capacity of domestic shipyards”. This underlines the industry’s great importance to the state. Projects being funded include new and more climate-friendly propulsion systems, quieter and low-vibration engine rooms, and specialised components for research vessels.
Meyer Werft received funding for its “ProLog2025” project, which reorganised the infrastructure in Halls 5 and 6 to reduce search and waiting times, losses, multiple transports and theft. The halls house the main construction docks, and the redesign has shortened walking distances and streamlined workflows. The processing time for a work package has reportedly been reduced from two to three weeks to just two to three days.
Abeking & Rasmussen received support for LNG engines, Fassmer for fishing winches, lifting equipment and a fish processing concept for the research vessel “Walther Herwig III”, while Lürssen’s local sites received funding for a special power generation system and a pod drive with synchronised propellers.
Economics Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne said: “The federal funding programme is an important driver for the future of Germany’s maritime industry. It shows that the innovative strength of our companies is incredibly high. Shipbuilding in Lower Saxony continues to hold its own in the global market, particularly against Asian competition. I am especially pleased that we can secure highly qualified jobs in this key industry.”
