The symbolic first cut of the spade, carried out by Genting Group’s Chairman and CEO Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister for Economic Affairs Harry Glawe, Rostock‘s senior mayor Roland Methling and MV Werften Chief Operating Officer Holger Tepper, signalled the beginning of the construction of the new hall 11.

The future shipbuilding complex will be 385 metres long, 99 metres wide and up to 24 metres high. Centrepiece will be a highly productive semi-automatic panel line, one of the most advanced in the world, welding panels of up to 25 x 16 meters. The so called laser-hybrid technique offers high quality standards at less heat production. Besides the panel line, hall 11 will also house a new section building line and a section outfitting line. Commissioning of the facilities will be in summer 2018. The Rostock site will then manufacture 80 large sections per ship of the 342-metre long Global Class.

“With these new facilities we will significantly increase the capacity of our steel prefabrication – and thus increase our productivity too,” explained Chief Operating Office Holger Tepper in the course of the event. “Around 200 employees will be working in the new hall complex.” In the mid-term, the number of employees at the site will be doubled, rising to a figure of 1,000 employees. In total, over €100 million will be invested in the Rostock yard within the shipbuilding group’s comprehensive investment programme, about €80 million of this in the new hall.

“With this groundbreaking ceremony, MV Werften is taking the next step in its comprehensive investment programme for the three sites in our federal state. Not only Rostock-Warnemünde, but also the sites in Stralsund and Wismar will profit from this expansion”, said Minister for Economic Affairs, Employment and Health, Harry Glawe, at the ceremony. “This is a good prospect for the entire maritime industry here in our state.”