‘New’ German Shipyard is Underway

With the closing on January 5, 2005, the marriage between ThyssenKrupp Werften and HDW has been formally consummated. This date also marks the official inception of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the new group parent headquartered in Hamburg.

Essentially, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems comprises the following subsidiaries: Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, Kiel; HDW-Nobiskrug GmbH, Rendsburg; Blohm + Voss GmbH und Blohm + Voss Repair GmbH, Hamburg; Nordseewerke GmbH, Emden; as well as Kockums AB, Sweden, and Hellenic Shipyards S.A., Greece. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems represents a sales volume of around €2.2 billion and presently employs a workforce of 9,300. Dr. Klaus Borgschulte chairs the new company as CEO. Ulrich Ziolkowski is its CFO, while Reinhard Kuhlmann heads Human Resources. Other Executive Board members are Walter Freitag, chairman of the Submarines division, and Gerhard Kempf, chairman of the Surface Vessels division.

The new shipyard enterprise focuses on the four product groups of Submarines, Naval Ships, Nonnaval Ships, and Repair and maintains all previous production locations.

The Hamburg, Emden and Kiel locations will graduate into competence centers with clearly demarcated product responsibilities. The purpose behind this product- and customer-focused organization is to respond rapidly and resultfully to market needs.