According to media reports, Germany’s largest naval shipbuilder, TKMS, has submitted a non-binding offer to acquire the shipyard German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK). Contacted by hartpunkt, a TKMS spokesperson confirmed the reports but declined to provide further details. The company had announced several months ago that it intended to examine by the end of last year whether acquiring a stake in GNYK as part of a consolidation strategy would be feasible.

Lars Hoffmann / Hartpunkt

TKMS and GNYK share the same shipbuilding facilities in Kiel, as both companies emerged from the split of HDW several years ago. While TKMS focuses on submarine construction at the site, GNYK has several halls, large dry dock and crane capacities, and experienced personnel on site.

As reported by hartpunkt at the end of December, rumors suggest that NVL, Germany’s second-largest naval shipbuilder, may also be interested in GNYK. NVL is currently undergoing a takeover process by Rheinmetall. A spokesperson for Germany’s largest defense company declined to comment at the time. According to a Reuters report from last month, the British defense, naval, and industrial company Inocea Group has also set its sights on GNYK.

In December, GNYK CEO Rino Brugge merely stated in response to an inquiry from hartpunkt that his company was generally interested in national or international cooperation and was in talks with potential partners. He also declined to provide further details.

Expanding production capacity would likely be strategically advantageous for TKMS, as experts predict that the German Navy, as well as allied navies, will have an increasing need for ships in the coming years. For example, before Christmas, the Norwegian government submitted a proposal to parliament in Oslo to exercise its option to procure two additional Type 212CD submarines from TKMS, even before the revision of the defense plan. As things stand, parliament is scheduled to debate the proposal on January 27th, after which a positive decision could lead to a swift contract signing.

In addition, TKMS and its partner Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) are in final negotiations with the Indian government for the delivery of six submarines under Project 75(I). Observers consider it rather unlikely that a contract will be signed as early as next week during Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trip to India, as some reports suggest.

Denmark is currently evaluating the market for new frigates. Whether the German F127-class frigates are an option remains to be seen. These ships make extensive use of sensors, software, and effectors manufactured in the US. Given the US administration’s ambitions to annex Greenland, a purchase would likely be very difficult to justify domestically. Reportedly, the Danish Defense Minister has canceled a scheduled meeting with TKMS this week, likely due in part to the recent threats from the White House.

This article by Lars Hoffman was originally published in German language at Hartpunkt.de. It has been translated and republished with authorization.