North German Shipbuilders See Full Order Books, Demand Maritime Action Plan
Hamburg, March 17 – The shipbuilding industry in Hamburg and North Germany is poised for substantial growth in the coming years, a development not seen in a long time. This optimistic outlook comes from both the IG Metall Küste trade union and the VSM shipbuilding association, who are jointly advocating for a comprehensive maritime action plan from political leaders.
Reinhard Lüken, Managing Director of the German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM), highlights the current strong demand. “Order books for new naval vessels, as well as for cruise ships and vessels for the expansion of the offshore industry, are currently as full as they have not been for a long time,” Lüken stated.
Overcoming Past Challenges and Addressing Dependencies
While the shipbuilding industry faced a significant downturn in the past 15 years, losing almost half of its turnover, Lüken believes this deficit could be recovered within a few years. He also raised concerns about existing dependencies. “We currently have a very strong dominance from China,” Lüken explained. “In Europe, it has been recognized how great the danger is if we become too dependent” – a risk that is viewed critically in the maritime sector as well.
IG Metall Küste Demands Job Growth and Training Initiatives
For Daniel Friedrich, District Manager of IG Metall Küste, it is crucial that this growth in shipyards and suppliers translates into more jobs within the industry. “Colleagues must be trained, meaning training quotas must increase,” Friedrich emphasized. He stressed the importance of intelligently combining education and further training, and encouraging individuals seeking career prospects to “come into the maritime industry, there is a future here.”
Anticipated Job Creation and National Maritime Conference
Friedrich estimates that over 5,000 additional jobs will be created in North German shipyards alone within the next five years. To ensure the industry’s long-term growth, IG Metall and the shipbuilding association plan to set the course with political representatives next month at the national maritime conference in Emden, Lower Saxony.
Defense Sector to Drive Sustained Activity
The union anticipates years of sustained activity, primarily driven by the high demand for military shipbuilding. This aligns with a survey by IG Metall, which indicates that more than half of shipyards expect increasing orders and additional employment opportunities.
IG Metall Calls for Excess Profit Tax on Defense Companies
In light of the substantial profits made by defense companies, Daniel Friedrich, head of IG Metall Küste, is also advocating for a special tax on these excess profits.
This topic was discussed on NDR 90.3 | NDR 90.3 Aktuell | March 16, 2026 | 4:00 PM.
Source: German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM), IG Metall Küste, NDR 90.3
