German shipyards Nobiskrug and FSG acquired by established firms
Two German shipyards - Flensburger Schiffbaugesellschaft (FSG) and Nobiskrug - have been acquired by a couple of shipbuilding firms, according to the bankruptcy administrators.
Both German shipyards are part of Lars Windhorst’s Tennor Group, which went into insolvency proceedings in December.
The Nobiskrug shipyard, based in Rendsberg, which had been a part of FSG since 2021, will be taken over by the Bremen-based luxury yacht builder Lürssen and will be operated as part of the neighbouring Lürssen-Kröger shipyard after the shipbuilder submitted a notarised offer for the yard.
Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, based in Flensburg, is to be purchased by Bremerhaven-based Heinrich Röner Group, which specialises in shipbuilding and heavy steel construction.
Both offers will be accepted by insolvency administrators Dr Cristoph Morgen and Hendrik Gittermann – from law firms Brinkmann & Partner and Reimer, respectively – after the opening of insolvency proceedings.
Dr Morgen said:
“We have managed to find two renowned strategic investors for FSG and Nobiskrug within the extremely tight time frame of just seven weeks.”
Nobiskrug provides both refit and new build services, including the 77-metre Project Black Shark, from its super yacht hall covered area and dry dock. It has built over 750 ships since it was founded in 1905.
Lürssen is a pioneering company with its sights set on sustainability – recent projects include energy-efficient yacht design, exhaust aftertreatment and the introduction of the world’s first motor yacht powered by green hydrogen fuel cells. The firm owns a shipyard in Schacht-Audorf, which sits on the same canal as the Nobiskrug yard.
FSG has designed and built more than 750 ships since its launch in 1872, such as heavy-lift carriers, seismic vessels, well intervention vessels, and state-of-the-art RoRo-ferries. It is the main supplier of logistic naval support vessels for the Germany Navy as well as for a number of NATO countries.
The Heinrich Röner Group specialises in the repair of ships and ship conversions, as well as building hulls for yachts and supplying and outfitting yachts and other vessels. The company had already purchased the steel construction division of the Rendsburg Nobiskrug shipyard in November 2021.
Gittermann commented:
“We are delighted that the takeover by Lürssen has created a long-term perspective for Rendsburg. The traditional company is an excellent fit for Nobiskrug. In addition, the capacities and locations of the two shipyards complement each other almost perfectly.”
It is expected that significant investment is required to bring both shipyards back into operation. Plans include certifications, building renovations and sourcing materials, as well as training for current employees to obtain further qualifications.