The Meyer Group and the Fassmer company are to jointly acquire shipbuilding engineering company Neptun Ship Design, based in Rostock, with around 100 employees.
Neptun Ship Design, with more than 30 years of experience and a global customer base, will continue to operate independently and maintain its current structure. Additional jobs will be created to strengthen the engineering office. This will enable Neptun to continue to serve customers worldwide and to assist in implementing projects for Meyer and Fassmer, enabling them to focus on the development and construction of highly complex special ships, which is where Meyer and Fassmer see the future market for new ships.
In this way, two successful German specialist shipyards, managed as family-owned companies in the seventh and fifth generations, are committed to preserving qualified shipbuilding jobs in Germany. Approval of the takeover by the Cartel Office is still pending.
Bernard Meyer, MD Meyer Werft, said: “We are strengthening our Rostock location with our involvement in Neptun Werft, Meyer Neptun Engineering and now Neptun Ship Design. For us, this commitment is a clear commitment to this location.”
Fassmer managing partner Harald Fassmer said: “The production of technically complex special ships is very construction-intensive and requires a lot of experience. With Neptun Ship Design, we are gaining a partner who has already supported us with a great deal of competence in recent years, including, for example, the new construction of the LNG-fuelled Atair. Special shipbuilding will continue to dominate the newbuilding market in Germany and Europe. We therefore see a lot of potential in this cooperation.”
Dr Christoph Morgen, insolvency administrator of MV Werften, said: “I am very pleased that we have found two renowned German companies that want to preserve the jobs at Neptun Ship Design and further develop the company.”
The Meyer Group and Fassmer are expanding their cooperation in developing and building the new German research vessel Meteor IV by 2026. Malte Poelmann, CTO Meyer Group, said: “Neptun Ship Design will also play a significant role in this project, giving it a new long-term perspective. In addition, we plan to hire new engineers. This cooperation will support us in achieving our ambitious sustainability goals. All three companies have been committed to this for many years. Now we are jointly giving these activities further tailwind and can offer our solutions for sustainable shipping also outside our shipyard groups.”
The long-standing Neptun directors will be involved again as shareholders. Under the management of Helge Sell, Stephan Merkel and Roland Gräber, Neptun Ship Design realised many successful projects, including several with Neptun Werft and Fassmer. Most recently, the company was part of the insolvent MV Werften.
Neptun Ship Design MD Helge Sell concluded: “This combination of continuity, new impulses as well as concrete orders from Meyer and Fassmer and other German shipyards gives Neptun Ship Design positive prospects for the future.”
