HanseYachts in Greifswald: Short-time work and layoffs are imminent!

HanseYachts in Greifswald: Short-time work and layoffs are imminent!

In the traditional city of Greifswald, where the waves of the Baltic Sea constantly hit the shore, worrying developments are emerging among Hanseatic yachts. The renowned shipyard, known for its ocean-going sailing yachts, plans to introduce short-time work by mid-August. According to information from NDR This measure is intended to apply from mid-July to the end of August and is the result of a noticeable decline in demand on the yacht market.

There are no rosy prospects for the workforce. According to the works council, a total of 190 employees out of around 740 employees will have to resign by the end of the year. The first 60 layoffs were announced in May. The star reports that the layoffs will take place gradually and that there will also be job cuts at the Polish location in Goleniów.

Background to the crisis

The decline in orders is being felt strongly in the core markets such as the USA and Germany and poses major challenges for the management of Hanseyachts. In order to reduce the loss of jobs, short-time work is considered more sensible, according to IG Metall managing director Frank Prenzlau. He emphasizes that this is a better solution than further layoffs.

In order to support the shipyard in the current crisis, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has agreed to a haircut and provided guarantees for the Hanseyachts. These measures were viewed by the company's board of directors, led by Hanjo Runde, as essential to saving the company. The Ministry of Economics in Schwerin confirmed the close exchange with those responsible, but did not want to reveal any further details about how for reasons of ongoing processes n-tv reported.

Outlook and change of ownership

But it's not just the job cuts that are on the table. The shipyard is planning a new direction in order to better adapt to the needs of the market. A change of ownership was also announced: Aurelius' shares are to be transferred to the entrepreneur Andreas Müller from Austria and Hanjo Runde. This could bring a breath of fresh air into the history of Hanseatic yachts and perhaps open up new perspectives.

It remains to be seen whether these measures will be fruitful. One thing is certain: the “Hanse 360”, which was voted “European Yacht of the Year 2025”, shows that Hanseachts still have a good knack for innovation. It remains to be seen how the situation at the Greifswald location will develop and whether the company can be “highly popular” again.