Vice Chancellor Habeck emphasizes the importance of the cruise ship manufacturer for the maritime economy – and in the future the shipyard could become important in another area.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has confirmed that the state’s involvement in the financially troubled Meyer Werft will not be permanent. “It is a stopgap measure – the shipyard should be able to stand on its own two feet again in the foreseeable future,” said the Green Party politician after the contracts were signed. The billion-euro rescue will secure “a future in Germany for one of the largest and most modern shipyards in the world.”
The Meyer Werft is “of systemic importance for the maritime economy with many thousands of jobs,” Habeck continued. In addition, it could play a significant role in the energy transition in the future by building offshore converter platforms. The platforms are needed to transmit the wind power generated on the high seas to land.
According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony are each paying 200 million euros for a total of 80.73 percent of the shares in Meyer Werft in Papenburg and Neptun Werft in Rostock. In addition, the federal government and the state secured 80 percent of a credit line totaling 2.6 billion euros with a guarantee. The remaining 20 percent of the loan amount remained at the risk of the banks.
Source: Stern
