Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping company MSC have won a 138-million-euro ($146-million) bid for Romania’s Mangalia shipyard, which is expected to build four naval vessels for the country.
The partners plan to turn the Black Sea facility into a dual-use shipbuilding site, handling civilian and military projects for domestic and international customers. The acquisition is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, with the companies sharing the purchase price.
Rheinmetall Naval Systems plans to use the yard to build two 96-meter (314-foot) offshore patrol vessels and two 43-meter (141-foot) diver support vessels commissioned by Romania.
After the takeover, Rheinmetall plans to modernize the shipyard, improve its production infrastructure, and expand capacity. The German company said the facility will be divided into separate sectors and security zones to accommodate civilian and military work.
“This will enable the site in the long term to play a key role in the implementation of our strategic activities in South-Eastern Europe and to strengthen our industrial presence in the region,” Tim Wagner, CEO of the Naval Systems division, said.
Why Mangalia Matters
The acquisition could help restore a major shipbuilding facility after years of financial difficulties. The shipyard entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2026, and nearly 1,000 workers lost their jobs.
Mangalia sits on the Black Sea, where Romania is a NATO member on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Reviving the site also aligns with Bucharest’s efforts to strengthen its domestic defense industry.
The government said negotiations under the European Union’s Security Action for Europe program included commitments to invest in Romanian defense manufacturing, including the Mangalia yard.
