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MSC Group is in discussions to acquire Meyer Werft, the Papenburg, Germany shipbuilder that builds vessels for MSC Cruises and other cruise lines. No valuation or timetable has been disclosed, and neither company has formally confirmed the negotiations. The possible deal would give MSC direct control of a yard central to its cruise newbuild programme.
Nb. 475 Thun Resilience will be launched at Ferus Smit’s yard in Leer, Germany, on Friday 9 October at 11.00 hrs. The vessel is being built for Erik Thun A.B. / Thun Tankers and is the sixth of 10 ordered R-Class ships. The yard said the vessels are a further development of the E-class tankers recently delivered to Thun.
Leonhardt & Blumberg has ordered another two 49,500 dwt MR chemical and product tankers from Guangzhou Shipyard International, extending a newbuilding programme launched in 2024. Broker reports say the pair is due for delivery in 2029 and will be built to the same specification as the earlier ships, with scrubbers and methanol-ready designs.
SAL Heavy Lift and Wuhu Shipyard signed a memorandum of understanding on 3 September 2026 for five additional 14,600 DWT multipurpose heavy-lift vessels. The deal was announced at SMM 2026 in Hamburg and would extend a partnership that has already delivered the Orca Class series.
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has signed a contract with German shipowner Peter Döhle for two 14,000 TEU container ships. The deal was signed on 1 September 2026 at the SMM Hamburg exhibition in Germany, with CSSC Trading Co., Ltd. alongside the yard.
Vietnam Ship Repair published a 2026 ranking of the five largest container shipping companies by capacity and fleet size. MSC tops the list with about 7.3 million TEU and about 1,000 ships, followed by Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping and Hapag-Lloyd.
Ferus Smit launched Nb. 474, Thun Response, at its Leer yard in Germany on 30 May at 11.00 hrs. The 7,999 dwt Ice Class 1A tanker will go to Erik Thun AB / Thun Tankers of Lidköping, Sweden.
Desan Shipyard will take part in SMM Hamburg 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, from 1-4 September 2026. The yard said it will use the exhibition to present its naval and commercial shipbuilding, repair, maintenance, conversion and renovation work at Hall B3, stand EG202.
Ferus Smit will launch Nb. 474 Thun Response at its yard in Leer, Germany, on 30 May at 11.00 hrs. The vessel is being built for Erik Thun AB and Thun Tankers as the fifth of eight R-Class ships in the series.
Davie Shipbuilding has appointed Mika Heiskanen as CEO for its Finland operations, covering Helsinki Shipyard and the recently acquired SATA Shipbuilding in Pori. Heiskanen will coordinate the two yards in Finland alongside managing directors Kim Salmi and Niko Suomela. Davie said the direct workforce of its Finland companies is expected to rise by at least 650 employees over the next two years.