The Thyssenkrupp subsidiary Marine Systems, which builds submarines and other warships, plans to expand the submarine shipyard in Kiel with investments of 250 million euros by 2023. "The goal is to further develop the shipyard site into an international competence center for conventional submarine construction," said company boss Rolf Wirtz. "Our claim is to be Europe's most modern marine company."
Thanks to the good order development, around 500 new employees will be hired throughout the company by the end of 2020, most of them in Kiel. Of the approximately 6,000 employees at Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, around 2,800 work in Kiel.
Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther spoke of a good day for the maritime industry in Schleswig-Holstein. With the planned investments, the Kiel location will become one of the most modern naval shipbuilding yards in Europe. In addition, the future viability of the maritime industry becomes clear.
Submarines for Turkey
Wirtz commented critically on political requirements for exports. Many share "deep concern that continuing discussions over the design of defense spending and arms exports will have a lasting negative impact on groundbreaking naval projects." The industry will continue to need export support from the Federal Government and a uniform European framework.
In 2016, Thyssenkrupp had run out of funds in the biggest arms deal in Australia's history. The Australian government instead ordered the twelve submarines from the French defense company Naval Group.
Turkey is doing better: in 2018, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems delivered six submarines to the country, according to a report in the Tagesschau newspaper. Arms exports to Turkey are controversial in Germany. Currently, a German arms export ban for Turkey is due to the Turkish military offensive against Kurds in northern Syria. However, this only applies to weapons and other military goods that can be used in the conflict.
