Rheinmetall and MSC have secured a €138 million bid for Romania’s Mangalia shipyard, with plans to restore the facility and establish a combined civilian and military shipbuilding operation. Located on the Black Sea, the site is expected to support domestic and international projects while producing four naval vessels commissioned by Romania. The planned naval construction programme includes two 96-metre offshore patrol vessels and two 43-metre diver support vessels, to be built by Rheinmetall Naval Systems. The two partners expect the acquisition to be completed in the coming weeks and will share the purchase cost. Rheinmetall intends to invest in modernising the shipyard, upgrading infrastructure and expanding production capacity. Separate sectors and security zones are also planned to ensure that civilian commercial work and military manufacturing can be accommodated at the same location. The project follows significant financial problems at Mangalia, which entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2026 and saw nearly 1,000 workers lose their jobs. Reviving the shipyard could restore industrial employment while strengthening Romania’s shipbuilding capabilities. The facility’s position on the Black Sea is particularly relevant to Romania’s role as a NATO member on the alliance’s eastern flank. The investment also aligns with government efforts to expand the national defence-industrial base, including commitments discussed under the EU’s Security Action for Europe programme.
