Thyssenkrupp, GNYK Team Up for German Warship Tender

Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK) have teamed up in the ongoing bidding process for a contract worth several billions of euros to build a new multipurpose warship for Germany, Thyssenkrupp said.

The company, responding to a Reuters query, said that GNYK is participating as general contractor in the auction and that Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems would act as subcontractor if their bid is successful.

RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), a group representing German newspapers, first reported that both shipbuilders had joined forces.

The tender is for Germany's new MKS 180 warship, which is one of the German military's largest armament initiatives and designed to combat targets in the air, above and below water and to conduct land operations.

The military is seeking bids for the construction of four ships, with an option for an additional two. The first four would cost about 4.5 billion euros ($5.21 billion), according to earlier plans.

Earlier this year, a consortium of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Luerssen had been excluded from the pan-European auction, which runs until the end of the year.

A consortium of Dutch shipbuilder Damen and Luerssen-owned Blohm+Voss as subcontractor are also still in the running, people familiar with the matter said. 

Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Sabine Siebold