downturn – which rapidly turned in-
to a crisis of the maritime industry as well
Photo: W.D.R.
T
he impact of the global economic
– had a severe impact on Germany’s shipyards industry already during the first three
quarters of 2009. According to data facilitated by the German Shipbuilding and
Ocean Industries Association (Verband für
Schiffbau und Meerestechnik e.V.; VSM)
only twelve new orders worth 387 mil-
The new double-end commuter ferry M/V “Uthlande” due for delivery by J.J. Sietas in time for
the 2010 summer season.
lion euros were received between 1st January and 30th September 2009, against
ros recorded during the whole of 2008.
As per 30th September, Germany’s
yards had 118 newbuilding orders in their
Photo: W.D.R.
46 contracts worth some 2.89 billion eu-
books, corresponding to an accumulated
contract value of 10,133 billion euros and
a total tonnage equivalent of 2,024,000
GT. Some further orders – merely for special-purpose ships – were obtained dur-
Another view of the new M/V “Uthlande”.
ing the fourth quarter of 2009, but at the
same time Germany’s yards had to deal
euros). As a result of contract cancella-
ber the industry’s total staff amounted to
with more contract cancellations than
tions and declining order volumes the an-
around 22,800.
most other shipbuilding nations.
nual production is estimated to fall below
FOCUS ON SPECIAL-PURPOSE SHIPS
three billion euros in both 2010 and 2011.
The precarious market situation has
Among the main reasons for the current
had been cancelled. VSM estimates the
already made an impact on the number
crisis of global shipbuilding are significant
German shipyards’ accumulated turnover
of employees working in the shipbuild-
overcapacities generated in Far Eastern
for 2009 to be less than four billion eu-
ing and ocean industries segment; it de-
countries – particularly in China and South
ros, clearly less than in 2008 (4.4 billion
clined by about 14% – corresponding to
Korea – during the past half decade. In re-
3,400 full time equivalents – during the
sponse to booming shipping markets, nu-
three quarters of 2009. By 30th Septem-
merous new yards entered into business,
Photo: HADAG
Already during the year’s first nine
months 27 orders worth 1.3 billion euros
merely in order to produce serial container
ships. In response to this competition Germany’s yards have gradually shifted their
focus towards the production of more sophisticated special-purpose ships such as
cruise vessels, ferries, RoRo-ships, special
tankers and luxury yachts.
The current order book clearly reveals this trend: By 30th September 2009
ferries, cruise ships and yachts accounted
for 57% and RoRo-ships for another 16%
of the total compensated tonnage of orders. In contrast the previously dominat-
A drawing of the M/V “St. Pauli”, the first ‘Typ 2000’ public transport ferry delivered for
operation in Hamburg back in 1997.
34
seatec 1/2010
ing share of container ship contracts had
reduced to just 14%.