Rheinmetall and Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) have won the bid to take over the Mangalia shipyard in Romania.
The €138m ($155m) acquisition, to be paid jointly by the two partners, is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
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The Mangalia facility, situated south of Constanța, is set to become a dual-use shipbuilding site, handling both military and civilian orders.
As part of this development, specific sectors and security zones will be created on-site to accommodate parallel civil and defence activities.
For Rheinmetall Naval Systems, the purchase is closely linked to its contract to construct four vessels for the Romanian government.
The four ships, two 96m offshore patrol vessels and two 43m diver support vessels, will be built at Mangalia.
In addition to these projects, Rheinmetall intends for the site to serve as a hub for potential future military shipbuilding work.
Rheinmetall Naval Systems CEO Tim Wagner said: “Following the acquisition, we plan to expand and upgrade the shipyard comprehensively. Our aim is to further develop the existing infrastructure, improve production conditions and adapt capacity to meet future requirements.
“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.”
The Mangalia acquisition comes amid Rheinmetall’s broader expansion in Romania. This activity follows the company’s 2024 purchase of a majority stake in local vehicle manufacturer Automecanica Mediaș and the award of a €328m Romanian air defence contract in December 2023.
In July last year, Rheinmetall also increased its manufacturing footprint in Romania, particularly around the production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, ammunition, and propellants.
