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Climate-neutral ships: Robert Habeck sees a future for German shipyards

2022-02-14T12:30:37.540Z


MV Werften have filed for insolvency. Economics Minister Habeck still senses an opportunity for shipbuilders in Germany – despite climate change.


Enlarge image

»Global Dream« in Wismar in January

Photo: GREGOR FISCHER / AFP

Despite the recent insolvency of the MV Group in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck says he believes in a future for the shipyards in the state.

"We have a good chance of keeping the shipyards in Germany with innovative concepts," said the Green politician after a conversation with his state colleague Reinhard Meyer (SPD) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's capital, Schwerin.

With regard to the insolvent MV Group, whose shipyard in Wismar he intends to visit later, Habeck sees the establishment of a transfer company as the most important goal in order to continue to provide the employees with wages – in addition to the insolvency money.

Shortly before the visit to the north-east, the minister announced that he saw an opportunity for the insolvent MV shipyards in the fight against climate change.

»Federal and state governments can provide support, but it will only work if companies are willing to take responsibility.«

The modernization of global fleets on the way to climate neutrality and offshore platform construction offer opportunities, said Habeck.

"There is an enormous need for converter stations, and we should have a common interest in having a German supplier here."

»It's about jobs, but also about tradition, identity and pride«

During his visit to the shipyard, Habeck wants to talk to the insolvency administrator about whether and how the further construction of the huge cruise ship "Global One" can be financed.

The former parent company Genting Hong Kong had ordered it for the Asian market.

Wismar is just one of three shipyard locations on the Baltic Sea whose future is in acute jeopardy after the insolvency of MV Werften, which belongs to the Asian Genting group.

The crisis was triggered by the corona pandemic, as a result of which cruise tourism, one of Genting Hong Kong's main sources of income, came to a standstill worldwide.

Because Genting's liquidity was no longer sufficient, the federal and state governments initially jumped in with loans and guarantees, but pulled the emergency brake at the beginning of this year.

In the past few months, the federal and state governments have made every effort to avert insolvency at the MV shipyards, said Habeck.

It is very unfortunate that the shareholders were ultimately not willing to go down this path and make their contribution.

"Especially as a Flensburg resident who lives in a shipyard town, I know how important the shipyards are: It's about jobs, but also about tradition, identity and pride."

During his trip to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Habeck also commented on the expansion of renewable energies.

He described the north-eastern state as an ideal location.

If it is possible to keep and advance value creation and jobs at the locations, the energy transition can strengthen the structure in rural areas, according to the Federal Minister.

At the same time, Habeck advocated not further increasing dependence on gas as an energy source.

It is an unacceptable state of affairs "that Germany, the federal government, the public sector have absolutely no way of guaranteeing security of supply in the gas sector," he said.

This must change - if necessary also by supporting the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals.

These are particularly controversial within the Greens.

In the event of a war in Ukraine, Habeck repeated the position of the federal government that, among other things, the approval for the Russian natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 is up for grabs.

“Should there be a war, there will be economic sanctions, which will be severe.

These do not exclude anything,” said Habeck.

The approval can “also be viewed against the background of geopolitical upheavals”.

Apr/dpa/AFP

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-02-14

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