Lloyd Werft to expand facilities in Bremerhaven

German shipyard Lloyd Werft, owned by the Heinrich Rönner Group, Gustav Zech Foundation and Lürssen, is seeking to expand its facilities in Bremerhaven after securing a 30-year lease for a seven-hectare site in Columbuskaje.

According to German news outlet Weser Kurier, the builder plans to open a second shipyard, which will also include a new floating dock in front of the quay capable of accommodating large cruise ships and cargo vessels - some of which are too large for the builder's existing facilities.

The site was bought back by the city of Bremen in 2023, following years of use as a fruit and general cargo dock. The city reportedly put the site out to tender, with Lloyd Werft now awarded the contract.

The news was confirmed by Bremenports CEO Robert Howe, who also announced that the German shipyard can lease the area for 30 years under a long-term leasehold agreement. Howe also announced that "a three-figure number" of jobs would be created at the new yard.

Lloyd Werft is expected to use the site for storing ship equipment parts as well as outfitting and maintaining vessels. Though plans for superyacht works have not been revealed, the yard has a longstanding history of yacht construction and refits, including the build of the 139.7-metre Solaris and the nine-month refit of the 126.2-metre Lürssen explorer Octopus.

The news comes following the announcement earlier this summer that the German shipyard had been selected as the shipyard partner to build Maybach Ocean Club's 155-metre superyacht Beyond Horizons – the "world’s first invitation-only private members’ club at sea".