zoomImage Courtesy: Blohm+Voss

The German Fair Trade Commission has approved the acquisition of Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg by German shipbuilder Lürssen Maritime Beteiligungen.

With the acquisition, Lürssen said it aims to strengthen its portfolio of services for repair and refit of yachts, naval and commercial ships as well as to enhance its naval new build activities.

“With the decision from the German Fair Trade Commission, we are a major step closer to achieving our goal and we are now able to face future challenges of the difficult market environment together with Blohm+Voss. We now have the opportunity to gain a comprehensive insight into the existing shipyard structures and to instigate primary steps for our future cooperation,” Peter Lürssen, Managing Partner of Luerssen Maritime Beteiligungen, said.

Following the official approval by the commission, Lürssen can now combine six shipyards with around 2,800 employees in Northern Germany.

During the approval process, the new owner has not been able to see or review detailed information on the internal organizational structures and processes within Blohm+Voss.

“Over the coming weeks we will concentrate on exchanging information with our new employees on site in Hamburg in order to get a concrete picture on the ground, and on this basis, step by step, we will develop and implement the initial processes to connect the Hamburg shipyard to our group,” Klaus Borgschulte, Technical Director at Lürssen Werft, said.

Founded in 1875, Lürssen’s primary activity is the design and manufacturing of yachts over 60 meters in length and naval and coastguard ships.