The key facts

  • Rheinmetall and MSC won the auction for the Mangalia shipyard for about €138 million ($155 million); the deal will close within a few weeks.
  • The shipyard will become a dual-use facility: civilian and military shipbuilding will proceed in parallel in separate sectors and security zones.
  • Four vessels ordered by the Romanian government will be built at the shipyard: two patrol ships 96 m long and two diver support vessels 43 m long.

The Deal and Its Terms

German defense company Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping company MSC won the auction to acquire the Romanian Mangalia shipyard, located south of Constanța, for approximately €138 million ($155 million). Rheinmetall announced this on Monday. The partners will jointly pay the purchase price, and the deal is expected to be completed within a few weeks.

Plans for Developing the Shipyard

The partners intend to develop the shipyard as a dual-use facility for civilian and military shipbuilding, oriented toward domestic and international markets. Civilian and military operations will run in parallel, with the shipyard's territory divided into separate sectors and security zones.

Military Orders and Regional Ambitions

For the Rheinmetall Naval Systems division, the shipyard will play an important role in building four vessels ordered by the Romanian government: two naval patrol ships 96 meters long and two diver support vessels 43 meters long. In addition, the facility is intended to become a center for additional military shipbuilding projects and to support Rheinmetall's expansion in Southeastern Europe.

Statements and Context

Tim Wagner, chief executive of the Rheinmetall Naval Systems division, said that after the acquisition the company plans to expand and modernize the shipyard. According to him, the investments will improve the existing infrastructure, production conditions and capacity to meet future requirements, and will strengthen Rheinmetall's industrial presence in the region. Rheinmetall has been operating in Romania since 2024 through the company Rheinmetall Automecanica, based in Mediaș.