Future of shipbuilding in MV: new beginnings or decline? Lecture in Stralsund!

Future of shipbuilding in MV: new beginnings or decline? Lecture in Stralsund!

In the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region, the shipyard industry is currently being illuminated in an exciting way. On November 3, 2025 at 7 p.m. there will be a lecture evening at MAKERPORT in Stralsund with the freelance business journalist and author Thomas Schwandt. He will discuss the development of shipbuilding in the region in his lecture “Decline or departure – Quo vadis shipbuilding?” illuminate in more detail. Schwandt recently published the illustrated book “Schiffbau MV Moments – Pictures of an (almost) lost era”, which captures the key turning points in the industry over the last two decades. It becomes clear that the shipyard industry has experienced major upheavals since the second wave of privatization starting in 1998 and has had to overcome numerous crises, including the financial and economic crisis of 2008/09 and the corona pandemic, which placed a heavy burden on the industry from 2020 onwards. Loud Stralsund.de Since then, the shipyard industry in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has massively shrunk.

What is the focus of the lecture? Thomas Schwandt will discuss the challenges, bankruptcies and future prospects of the shipyard industry. His illustrated book, which is his first publication in this genre, contains impressive photographs that document the bygone era of shipbuilding in MV. This brings up a great piece of history that not only affects the shipyards themselves, but also the people who work in this industry.

A new wind is blowing

Freshly taken over by Genting Hong Kong, the Nordic Yards shipyard group in Wismar, Rostock and Stralsund is now set to enter a new era. According to a report by Deutschlandfunk In the future, particular emphasis will be placed on building cruise ships in these East German shipyards. Genting has big plans, investing 230 million euros in the purchase and plans to use 100 million euros to invest in the MV shipyards. Despite past difficulties, there is now optimism as employees express positive opinions about their prospects in the new economic framework.

The infrastructure is highlighted by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Economics Minister Harry Glawe as being advantageous compared to other regions because the construction halls are independent of the weather. These could be decisive factors for the return to active shipbuilding in Wismar, where repairs were mainly carried out recently. With the announcement that it plans to create up to 3,000 jobs in the near future, Genting's commitment is more than clear. This would mean doubling the existing positions.

Tackle upcoming challenges

Schwandt's lecture on November 3rd not only offers the opportunity to get to know his current book better, but also a deep insight into the depressing past and the promising future of shipbuilding in the region. He will address the many changes, crises and opportunities of recent years that are inextricably linked to the shipyards in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

For those interested, there is more information about the event in the Rostock Maritime Museum at schifffahrtsmuseum-rostock.de.