ed to shift from the construction of tradi-
committed team and the particular spirit
tional wooden sailing ships to steam-driv-
of a family-owned venture is at least as
en vessels with iron hulls. Decades later,
important. Its workforce of about 2,500
after the end of the Second World War,
turns the shipyard into the most impor-
Meyer Werft was again among the first
tant regional employer.
yards to recognise the advantages of se-
Fluctuation of staff is low and the
rial shipbuilding as well as the market po-
team’s commitment extremely strong:
tential of ferries and cruise ships.
Many employees have started their ca-
A series of ten medium-sized con-
reer at Meyer Werft as apprentices (of
ventional car/passenger-ferries, which
whom the yard currently trains a total
was delivered to various owners in the
of 300 in twelve different professions)
early 1970s and internationally attributed
and strive to remain team members to-
to as the “Papenburg-Sisters”, earned the
wards the end of their professional live.
yard significant esteem and thus helped
This loyalty, which is stimulated by on-
to enter new markets. In 1975 the ship-
the-job training programs, in-house ca-