German Shipyard Meyer Werft Secures Historic €10 Billion Order from MSC Cruises

Berlin – December 15, 2025 | EcoPulse24

German shipyard Meyer Werft has secured a long-term contract worth nearly €10 billion with Swiss cruise line MSC Cruises, as announced by German Economic Minister Katarina Reiche during a press conference in Berlin. The agreement involves projects to construct new cruise ships until 2033, with two additional options to extend cooperation until 2035, ensuring the full operational capacity of the shipyard located in Papenburg, Northern Germany, near the Dutch border for years to come.

The German Ministry of Economy anticipates that the contract will include the construction of between four to six cruise ships, providing a strong boost for the yard, which faced bankruptcy risks in recent years due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs following the war in Ukraine.

The German government and the local government of Lower Saxony intervened to rescue Meyer Werft at the end of last year by acquiring a 40% stake each for a total investment of €400 million, along with providing credit lines worth €2.6 billion to support restructuring.

Reiche clarified that the company’s restructuring process began in early 2024 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, noting that the government aims to privatize the yard later, after ensuring its financial stability and competitiveness in the global market.

This new deal with MSC Cruises is seen as a pivotal turning point for Meyer Werft, as it offers long-term order visibility that bolsters confidence in the future of the German shipbuilding industry and supports the retention of jobs and industrial expertise in this high-cost, capital-intensive strategic sector.