Rheinmetall and MSC secure €138 million bid to transform Mangalia Shipyard into a hub for military and commercial shipbuilding in Romania.
German defense industry company Rheinmetall and Switzerland-based maritime transport group Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) have won a €138 million tender to acquire the Mangalia Shipyard on Romania's Black Sea coast. The two companies plan to transform the shipyard into a joint production center where both commercial and military vessels will be constructed.
The agreement regarding the acquisition of the shipyard, located south of the city of Constanța in Romania, is expected to be finalized within the next few weeks. The purchase price, which corresponds to approximately $155 million, will be jointly covered by the two companies.
Civil and military ship production will take place in the Black Sea.
According to the plan announced by Rheinmetall on October 19, the Mangalia Shipyard will be converted into a production facility where civil and military shipbuilding activities can be conducted simultaneously.
For this purpose, the shipyard will be divided into different production areas and security zones. Commercial shipbuilding activities and military projects will be carried out in sections that are suitable for their operational requirements.
The new partnership aims to serve the shipbuilding demands in both Romania and international markets.
Four military vessels will be built for Romania.
The Mangalia Shipyard will be positioned as a significant production center for Rheinmetall's naval systems activities.
The shipyard is planned to be utilized in the construction of four military vessels ordered by the Romanian government.
The program includes two offshore patrol vessels measuring 96 meters in length and two diving support vessels measuring 43 meters in length.
In addition to these projects, the facility is also expected to be evaluated as a production center for future military shipbuilding programs.
The shipyard's infrastructure will be modernized.
Tim Wagner, CEO of Rheinmetall Naval Systems, stated that they plan to implement a comprehensive modernization program at the Mangalia Shipyard following the completion of the acquisition.
The program aims to enhance the existing infrastructure, improve production conditions, and reorganize capacity according to the needs of future projects.
The investments are intended to ensure that the shipyard becomes a long-term production center for shipbuilding activities in Southeast Europe.
The bankrupt shipyard is preparing to resume operations.
The Mangalia Shipyard had entered a restructuring and sales process following financial difficulties experienced in recent years.
The Damen Shipyards Mangalia operation entered a restructuring process in June 2024 due to payment difficulties and had progressed to bankruptcy by April 2026.
The organization conducting the liquidation process announced that Rheinmetall Real Estate România was the winning party with a bid of €138.03 million in the tender held on October 9, 2026.
The Romanian government considers the resumption of operations at the shipyard an important step for the preservation and development of the country's shipbuilding capacity.
However, the sale does not mean that all the land where the shipyard is located has been transferred to the private sector. According to statements from Romanian authorities, some land and port infrastructure elements continue to remain in state ownership.
MSC will participate in commercial shipbuilding activities.
The participation of MSC, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, in the partnership will also enable the evaluation of Mangalia for commercial shipbuilding and maritime activities.
The new partnership aims to combine production capacity in the defense industry with experience in the commercial shipping sector at the same shipyard.
However, the companies have not yet detailed which types of vessels will be prioritized in commercial ship production, the scope of new orders, and the planned total investment amount.
A new shipbuilding center in the Black Sea.
The resumption of operations at the Mangalia Shipyard is significant for the future of shipbuilding infrastructure on Romania's Black Sea coast.
The development of the facility for civil and military production is part of Rheinmetall's strategy to expand its industrial activities in Southeast Europe.
The German company has been operating in Romania through Rheinmetall Automecanica in the city of Mediaș since 2024.
With the completion of the new investment in Mangalia, the company aims to increase its production capacity for maritime platforms in the country.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
