Rheinmetall has secured a multi-year contract to maintain four LNG-powered vessels operated by Germany’s Federal Customs Administration. The agreement expands the company’s naval services business beyond construction into long-term fleet support.
The framework covers scheduled maintenance, repairs, emergency assistance and technical support during operations. Work will be carried out at the vessels’ berths in Lubmin, Neustadt i.H., Wilhelmshaven and Emden.
The fleet consists of one 67-metre customs vessel and three 55-metre vessels. The three smaller ships were built at the Peene-Werft shipyard in Wolgast and delivered last year within the agreed schedule.
Rheinmetall will use technical knowledge acquired during construction to support maintenance and repairs. That experience will also be applied to technical optimisation throughout the vessels’ service lives.
“Our aim is to support our customers as a reliable partner not only during the construction phase, but throughout the entire life cycle of their vessels,” said Tim Wagner, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems Division. “The new framework agreement is important evidence of this and, at the same time, a confirmation of our strategy to closely link new-build expertise with our service offerings.”
The contract gives the Federal Customs Administration continued access to the shipyard expertise behind three of the vessels. For Rheinmetall, it strengthens a longer-term customer relationship and adds recurring support work to its naval portfolio.
The aluminium vessels monitor and control cross-border goods traffic at sea. They operate within Germany’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.