The German defense company Rheinmetall and the Swiss shipping company MSC are finalizing the acquisition of the Romanian shipyard in Mangalia, south of Constanța and facing the Black Sea, for an amount close to 138 million euros, which will be disbursed equally by both companies.
The operation, whose definitive signing is scheduled for the coming weeks, aims to transform the facilities into a dual-use industrial center, capable of simultaneously handling orders for civil and military shipbuilding for both national and international clients. To this end, the site will be reorganized into different operational sectors and differentiated security areas.
In the case of Rheinmetall Naval Systems, the Mangalia complex will be key to materializing the contract for four military vessels awarded by the Romanian government, including two 96-meter offshore patrol vessels and two 43-meter diver support ships.
The shipyard is also designed to become a central platform for future military shipbuilding programs. With this investment, Rheinmetall establishes an expandable base for new projects in Southeast Europe and strengthens its presence in a region considered strategic.
"After the acquisition, we plan to comprehensively expand and modernize the shipyard. Our goal is to continue developing the existing infrastructure, improve production conditions, and adapt capacity to meet future needs," declared Tim Wagner, head of the Naval Systems division of Rheinmetall, which has been operating in Romania since 2024.