Shipyards and Repair

Hamburg is an important site for shipbuilding.

Container vessels, luxury yachts, and special purpose ships are built, refitted, or repaired in Hamburg shipyards. They also carry out conversions and overhauling.

More than ten Hamburg shipyards are involved in construction and repair of everything from port boats and barges to huge seagoing ships.

The largest shipyard in Hamburg, Blohm + Voss (www.blohmvoss-repair.com), belongs to the Thyssen Krupp concern. It is specialised in ship repairs and conversions. The five docks can handle ships up to 320,000 dwt (dead weight tons). Among them is Europe’s largest dry dock, which is 352 metres long.

The Sietas Shipyard (www.sietas-werft.de) builds mostly container feeder vessels, as well as heavy lift ships and special purpose ships. It was founded in 1635 and is thus one of the oldest family-run businesses worldwide.

Norderwerft (www.norderwerft.de) takes care of conversions, repairs, and overhauls: three floating dry docks that can lift up to 12,500 metric tons and are 164 metres long are available there.

The MAN B&W Diesel motor manufacturer has a service centre in Hamburg for its maritime customers.

The city is also the home of the German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association VSM, which represents the interests of the German maritime industry.

Shipbuilding has a long tradition in Hamburg and ships are built and repaired in the city. The sailing ship “Gorch Foch,” a training ship, was launched at the Blohm + Voss shipyards. Many years of experience, technical know-how, and the latest production techniques ensure international competitiveness. Now and again, the “Queen Mary 2” can also be spotted in the “Elbe 17” dry dock at the Blohm + Voss repair yard.