Bremer Lürssen shipyard faces delivery delays for naval tankers
Delivery of marine tankers by Bremen Lürssen shipyard is delayed.
The shipbuilding group NVL has admitted two new naval tankers will not be delivered on time, a development that follows criticism of the initial contract awarded to Lürssen over three years ago. There have been concerns regarding the agreed construction price, as it was significantly higher than initially anticipated.
The delay in delivery has been confirmed by both the company and the Ministry of Defense. A representative from Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) attributed the delay to complications in production and supply chain issues. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine have further contributed to the delays.
The ministry added that the fuel supply at sea continues to be guaranteed, and the navy's operations will conform to their usual duties. The first tanker, initially planned for spring delivery, is now expected to be delivered in 2023. The second one is scheduled for 2024.
The existing supply ships, nearly half a century old, are in dire need of replacement, according to the Ministry of Defense. A third supplier is currently being considered. The two tankers already ordered amount to approximately 914 million euros. For large parts of their construction, NVL has commissioned the Papenburger Meyer Werft.
In early 2022, the construction of the two Lürssen ships faced public scrutiny. Investigations by NDR, WDR, and SZ suggested that Lürssen's demanded price was greatly inflated, with the procurement office for the Bundeswehr estimating the realistic price for the tankers at around €620 million—250 million euros less than what Lürssen demanded. Despite internal warnings, the office allegedly continued with the contract award.
The manufacturing industry in Bremen is experiencing delays in the delivery of naval tankers, as the Bremer Lürssen shipyard, under the umbrella of Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL), has admitted that two new naval tankers will not be delivered on schedule. This delay and the subsequent concerns over the agreed construction price have raised questions within the finance sector regarding the management and cost-effectiveness of the manufacturing industry in Bremen.
