The construction of the first of two naval supply vessels has begun at MEYER WERFT's laser centre
Papenburg, The machines for the construction of the first of two new marine fuel suppliers (MBV) were symbolically started up in Papenburg today. The two supply ships for the German Navy are being manufactured under the leadership of the Bremer NVL Group in cooperation with Meyer Werft and will replace the units of the RHÖN class. The inflow is planned from 2025.
With the cutting of the first steel plate, the procurement project signed between the client and the industrial partners in mid-2021 will be implemented. The platforms are built, commissioned and tested at the Rostock Neptun shipyard, which belongs to the Meyer Group. As the general contractor, the NVL takes on the project management, the marine-specific parts of the platform and deployment system as well as extensive services for preparing the supply readiness, which ensure the operability of the ships in the logistics system of the Bundeswehr.
“With the start of production of the new fuel suppliers, the renewal of our tankers has been initiated. We ensure the sustainability of maritime task forces through military fuel supply on the high seas, while also meeting current environmental protection standards and, above all, making a significant contribution to national and alliance defense. In addition, I am pleased that with the NVL, but also the Meyer shipyard, two German shipyards are making a significant contribution to maintaining capability with their know-how," said Annette Lehnigk-Emden, President of the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw ).
With a permanent crew of 42 people and an additional embarkation contingent of 23 people, the 173-meter-long Class 707 naval tankers essentially take care of the fuel supply on the high seas and accordingly increase the service life of naval ships in the respective operational area. The fleet tankers with a displacement of 20,000 tons will be able to refuel from both sides and thus to two ships at the same time.
"We are pleased that after the design phase we are finally getting into production and that we have an experienced partner in the construction of ships of this size on board in Meyer Werft," emphasized Tim Wagner, CEO of the NVL Group. "This complex construction phase also clearly shows that the naval fuel suppliers are not simple tankers, but distinctive naval ships with numerous corresponding military requirements."
“We are very happy to contribute our decades of experience in the construction of special tankers to this demanding project. Today's start of production marks an important milestone in the realization of this complex new construction project," emphasized Jan Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft.
