Karl WP Beyer December 15, 2025 – The Meyer shipyard has secured the anticipated major order from MSC Cruises – at least for the time being: Both sides have signed a letter of intent for the construction of four to six cruise ships. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the order volume is up to ten billion euros.
Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche spoke of a signal for Germany's maritime sector and sees the shipyard's capacity utilization secured "well into the next decade." Support also comes from state politics and industry: Lower Saxony's Minister-President Olaf Lies called the agreement a strong signal for the Papenburg region and the maritime supply chain.
Meyer Werft - Undocking of the Ovation of the Seas
According to sources close to the signatories, the agreement concerns not only the new ships themselves, but also additional options: In addition to the ships already confirmed, two further options have been communicated, linked to a new class of ship (New Frontier). These vessels are intended to offer space for approximately 5.400 passengers and – if the options are exercised – are to be delivered annually starting in 2030.
The deal is also significant from an industrial policy perspective: At the end of 2024, the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony each acquired a roughly 40 percent stake in the shipyard, supported by €400 million in equity capital and a €2,6 billion credit line guaranteed by the public sector. The goal remains economic stabilization by 2028 – and, in the long term, reprivatization. The IG Metall union welcomed the contract but attached clear expectations regarding job security in Papenburg.
Commentary on the cruise industry news from December 13, 2025As early as Saturday, we reported on consistent reports concerning four new MSC ships and a presentation scheduled for Monday in Berlin – at that time still without official confirmation and with no price tag. With the now-signed letter of intent, the speculation becomes a solid framework, which, however, still needs to be translated into binding contracts in the coming steps. In parallel, the announced change in management remains relevant: André Walter is to take over as CEO on July 1, 2026; Bernd Eikens will hand over the reins as planned.
