A Revival of European Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding still counts on the continent of Europe in that it represents a means of generating added value and creating wealth. Many European yards have become specialists in certain types of vessel. The continent still retains a stranglehold on the assembly of cruise liners for the leisure sector which will be demonstrated in this article. One or two European yards have even won export contracts from shipping lines in Asia which is a miracle given the omnipotent presence of state owned Chinese yards that could never go bankrupt.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has signed a contract with the Defence Science and Technology Agency of Singapore to build two more Invincible class submarines based on the Type 218 design. This is another variant of the Type 214 class that has been built under license in Italy and Greece. 4 submarines have already been supplied and delivered to the Republic of Singapore Navy. This vessel displaces 2000 tons and can launch the latest class of torpedo. This represents a huge export win for the European sector. Contract value runs into hundred of millions of Euros.
The first Pohjanmaa class corvette has been launched at Rauma shipyard in Finland for the Finnish Navy by Rauma Marine Construction. This is the first of 4 corvettes under construction that are designed to perform the full spectrum of maritime operations in the Baltic Sea such as defence and prosecution of surface and underwater targets. All corvettes will be assembled in a new purpose built hall that can not be hindered by weather conditions. All ships would be made available to NATO’s Standing Naval Forces in a crisis. Finland joined NATO not so long ago as a result of a perceived new threat from the Russian Federation after the invasion of Ukraine. All readers should never forget that Finland has been attacked in the 20th Century by what was the Soviet Union in autumn 1939 in the so-called Winter War. The country was also forced to cede territory at the end of World War 2.
French company OCEA also signed a contract with the Department of Transportation of the Philippines for 40 fast patrol boats with associated logistic support. This is worth Euro 406.4 million and demonstrates another export success. All boats would have a range of 700 miles and be operated by a crew of 17 persons. These vessels are designed for territorial and deep sea surveillance missions. They would also be operated to stop illegal migration and smuggling. This reflects greater geo-political tensions in the South China Sea as China lays claim to a number of islets such as the Scarborough Shoals.
Naval Group has also rolled out the submarine De Grasse to be transferred across to floating platform type shiplift. This is the third vessel of a 6 boat class on order for the French Navy. A variant of this design has also been selected by the Netherlands for its next submarine class. The submarine displaces 4700 tons and would be armed with F21 type heavyweight torpedoes and SM39 anti-ship missiles. Again this reflects greater urgency within European nations to upgrade their fleets in response to a deteriorating international security situation.
The Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia has also launched a new offshore patrol vessel for the Kingdom of Morocco at its San Fernando shipyard. The same class of vessel based on the Avante design has also been exported to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. This vessel will be operated by a crew of 60 persons. The contract also included a technical support package. This illustrates a classic example of how European yards can flourish by the willingness to offer something a bit different. The same company is assembling the S-80 class submarine for the Spanish Navy.
On a different note, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited awarded a contract to Remontowa shipyard in Poland for the construction of 7 ferries. All these vessels will be powered by all electric propulsion. No doubt some angry comment will be uttered as to why some of these ships could not be built in a British yard. The same company has just taken delivery of Glen Sannox from Ferguson Marine Engineering after a delay of over a year caused by repeated design changes. This does not create confidence for other shipping operators to place orders for new tonnage with yards in the United Kingdom.
The European sector has not been slothful in grabbing new contracts for cruise liners. MSC World America was handed over to MSC Cruises by the Saint Nazaire shipyard, Chantiers de Atlantique. The vessel displaces 215863 gross tons and retains a capacity for 6762 passengers. The same yard also built Queen Mary 2. On the same topic, Disney Destiny was floated out after the Meyer Werft building hall in Papenburg was flooded. She is the 3rd vessel in a series of 7 on order. This vessel will be powered by a LNG fuelled engine and displaces 144000 gross tons. The ship can accommodate 4000 passengers.
Mark Sandford - Permission granted to freely distribute this article for non-commercial purposes if attributed to Mark Sandford, unedited and copied in full, including this notice.
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