A historic shipyard with a long past including building ships for the Soviet Union has announced it will bring itself up to date with a major modernisation project.
Peene-Werft in Wolgast, Germany says irt intends to inhance its shipbuilding capabilities and infrastructure after 70 years as a well-known shipbuilder belonging to the Lürssen Group.
The initiative comes as part of the shipyard’s long-term strategy to adapt to evolving market demands and technological advancements. Dating back some 70 years, the yard has built various vessels, including cruise ships, ferries, and offshore support vessels.
The modernisation project includes installing advanced robotic systems, digitalisation and implementing new engineering and design software.
Peene-Werft also aims to enhance its sustainability practices by implementing eco-friendly measures throughout the shipbuilding process with energy-efficient solutions, waste reduction and integrating renewable energy sources to align with industry’s growing focus on environmental sustainability.
The shipyard also intends to strengthen its workforce by providing comprehensive training programmes and investing in the development of its employees’ skills.
Peene-Werft is a well-known shipyard that has been a part of the Bremen Lürssen Group since May 2013. With a history dating back to its establishment on June 20, 1948, under the Soviet military administration, the shipyard initially focused on building cutters and coasters as reparations for the Soviet Union. Subsequently, in 1951, it began the construction of naval ships.
Over the years, Peene-Werft has played a pivotal role in building a wide range of vessels for both the People’s Navy and the Soviet Union, including light torpedo speedboats, minesweepers, landing ships and submarine hunters. In fact, the majority of the Volksmarine fleet was manufactured at the Peene shipyard.
During the late 1970s, the shipyard also embarked on the construction of sea bucket chain dredgers for the USSR. In the 1980s, it produced small cabin boats with internal combustion engines as part of the party’s prescribed ‘consumer goods production’ initiative.
As a state-owned enterprise within the shipbuilding combine of the German Democratic Republic, the shipyard employed approximately 2,900 people in 1989.
