Rheinmetall and MSC to acquire Mangalia shipyard

Mangalia Shipyard when Damen managed the site, with rows of cranes and cargo containers lining the waterfront. Image taken from a 7 June 2019 press release issued by Damen. (Damen)

Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping company MSC plan to acquire Romania's Mangalia shipyard for about EUR138 million (USD154.9 million) after after winning the auction, with completion expected within weeks, Rheinmetall announced on 19 October 2026.

The bid concerns the former Damen Shipyards Mangalia (DSM) facility, which is located in a non-tidal port on Romania's Black Sea coast, south of Constanța. The Romanian government said on 9 October that the shipyard had experienced financial difficulties that culminated in bankruptcy and the dismissal of nearly 1,000 employees. It added that approval of the acquisition followed negotiations under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, during which the government made the implementation of Rheinmetall military procurement projects conditional on commitments to invest in Romania's defence industry, including the revitalisation of Mangalia Shipyard.

Rheinmetall and MSC plan to develop Mangalia as a dual-use production site where military and civilian shipbuilding can be conducted in parallel in separate sectors and security zones. Rheinmetall said on 19 October that the yard would play an important role in building two 96 m offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and two 43 m diver support vessels ordered by the Romanian government.