M&A · Naval shipbuilding
Rheinmetall and MSC win bid for Romania’s Mangalia shipyard
The partners plan a civilian and military shipbuilding site, with a role in building four naval vessels commissioned by the Romanian government.
Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping company MSC have won the auction for Romania’s Mangalia shipyard, south of Constanța, Rheinmetall announced Oct. 19. The partners will jointly pay around €138 million for the acquisition, which Rheinmetall expects to finalise in a few weeks.1
Rheinmetall and the Swiss shipping company MSC intend to acquire the Romanian Mangalia shipyard
Aim is a dual-use site for civil and military shipbuilding
to be paid jointly by the two partners
can be developed and carried out in parallel
acquisition expected to be finalised in a few weeks
Source: Rheinmetall, Oct. 19, 2026
Sources
Rheinmetall expects Mangalia to play an important role in its Naval Systems division’s construction of four vessels commissioned by the Romanian government. The work includes two 96-metre offshore patrol vessels. It also includes two 43-metre diver support vessels.1
The partners plan to develop civilian and military shipbuilding in parallel for domestic and international markets, dividing the site into sectors and security zones. Tim Wagner, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Naval Systems division, said the company plans to expand and upgrade the yard after the acquisition, improving production conditions and adapting capacity to future requirements.1
Rheinmetall’s plans for Mangalia extend beyond the four Romanian vessels: the company intends the yard to serve as a hub for further military shipbuilding projects. MSC will share the purchase price, and the partners plan civilian shipbuilding alongside military work at the same site.1
Sources (1)
- Rheinmetall press release, Oct. 19, 2026 www.rheinmetall.com