The Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg has received a major order. Four cruise ships are to be built for the Disney Cruise Line by 2031. This is the largest order in the company’s more than 200-year history. However, the shipyard has not provided any information on the volume of the order.
The four new ships are scheduled to be delivered between 2027 and 2031. Details on design, names and routes are still being developed. Company owner Bernard Meyer, who recently signed the agreement with Disney, emphasizes the importance of the order. He sees it as a positive signal for the future of jobs in Papenburg.
Challenges for Meyer Werft
Meyer Werft is currently in a serious crisis. By the end of 2027, it must raise more than 2.7 billion euros to finance new ship construction. This makes the new order particularly important. Some of the contracts for the cruise ships were concluded before the pandemic. There are no plans to adjust to rising energy and raw material prices. The shipyard will only receive 80 percent of the purchase price upon delivery, which is why loans are necessary.
Restructuring and job cuts
At the beginning of July, management agreed on a restructuring plan with the works council and IG Metall. This plan envisages the elimination of 340 of the more than 3,000 jobs. A supervisory board and a group works council are to be created and the company headquarters are to be moved from Luxembourg to Germany. In addition, discussions are being held about possible state aid from the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony. These measures are intended to help stabilize the company and make it future-proof.
