German defence company Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping group MSC have won a €138 million bid to acquire Romania’s Mangalia shipyard, a Black Sea facility expected to construct four naval vessels for the Romanian government. The partners intend to transform the site into a dual-use shipbuilding centre serving both civilian and military customers in Romania and international markets. The acquisition is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks, with Rheinmetall and MSC sharing the purchase price. Rheinmetall Naval Systems plans to use the facility to build two offshore patrol vessels measuring 96 metres and two diver support vessels measuring 43 metres. Following the takeover, Rheinmetall intends to modernise the shipyard, upgrade its production infrastructure and expand its manufacturing capacity. The company also plans to establish separate operational sectors and security zones to accommodate civilian and military activities. The acquisition could help revive an important Romanian industrial facility that experienced severe financial difficulties. The shipyard entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2026, resulting in the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs. Its location on the Black Sea gives it strategic significance for Romania, a NATO member situated on the alliance’s eastern flank. Restoring operations would also support Bucharest’s objective of strengthening domestic defence manufacturing. According to the Romanian government, negotiations under the European Union’s Security Action for Europe programme included commitments to invest in the country’s defence industry, including the Mangalia facility.
