A NATO Deployment Hub and converter platforms to be built at the Warnowwerft shipyard

A key issues paper signed in November 2023 sets the course for the future civilian use of the southern section of the Warnowwerft Naval Arsenal. The Naval Arsenal’s northern section has been used for the maintenance of ships and boats of the German Navy and NATO allies for more than a year. In the southern section, the production of converter platforms for offshore wind parks by a private investor is to begin soon. In addition, a logistic port will be built that will serve as a NATO Deployment Hub.

The currently unused southern section was one of the key topics already discussed during the last visit by Boris Pistorius in September 2023. After negotiations with potential investors and representatives of the Land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Federal Minister of Defense has now signed a key issues paper on the future use of the southern section in the presence of Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Manuela Schwesig, Land ministers Reinhard Meyer (Economics) and Dr. Till Backhaus (Infrastructure) and Dr. Christoph Krupp, spokesman of the Board of Directors at the Institute for Federal Real Estate. Representing the investors, members of the Meyer Group and the Smulders Group attended the event.

A win-win situation for all parties involved

The key issues paper does not solely protect security and military interests of Germany and its transatlantic and European allies. It also allows the southern section to be used temporarily by a group of private investors: “This is a good day for Germany and the Land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,” the Federal Minister of Defense said in his opening statement.

“This solution strengthens NATO, the EU, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Hanseatic city of Rostock as well as industry. It provides greater security, creates economic growth and new jobs and is thus an excellent example of a successful cooperation between the Government and industry in difficult times.”

In his statement, Boris Pistorius highlighted the constructive collaboration between the Federal Government, the Land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the investors. He thanked all parties involved for their excellent work.

A NATO Deployment Hub to be built in the southern section

The Naval Arsenal in Rostock provides effective maintenance of maritime weapon systems for the Bundeswehr and its allies. Now, a logistic port that will serve as a NATO Deployment Hub will be built in the southern section due to its strategic location with direct access to the Baltic sea. From here, it will be possible to relocate troops and materiel and also to provide Central and Eastern Europe with supplies. Boris Pistorius declared in his press statement that by means of the Deployment Hub, Germany would provide a central logistic base for the defense of NATO’s eastern flank. In addition, he stated that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine had led to a reevaluation of the risks posed by resource dependencies.

Converter platforms to be produced in the southern section

One part of the area measuring some 200,000 m² will be used for the production of converter platforms for offshore wind parks in large quantities. These facilities function like transformer stations and are installed in the open sea. They are crucial for the development of offshore wind power generation and play a critical role in Germany’s renewable energy transition.

On behalf of the Bundeswehr, the Institute for Federal Real Estate will lease the designated area to the investor group until 31 December 2024. In return, the investor group undertakes, for example, to carry out various construction works that will later be of use to the Bundeswehr. This includes, for example, the provision of unrestricted access to the future quay wall, which is required by the Bundeswehr within the scope of the NATO Deployment Hub.

For the investors, the future use of part of the southern section is an important step. According to Dr. Jan Meyer, representative of the Neptun Smulders Engineering investor consortium, the new site will permit a leap in size and technology that, to this extent, is impossible to realize at the Neptunwerft shipyard. He further declared that the new site was important for the transition from 700 megawatts to 2 gigawatts and the introduction of high-voltage direct current technology. It is only thanks to such technological leaps, he explained, that the Federal Government’s ambitious goals concerning the development of offshore wind energy can be accomplished.

Moreover, the key issues paper deals with questions concerning military security, immission control, fire safety and further construction measures. The Bundeswehr is also guaranteed parking areas and access rights during exercises and upon alert by NATO in a state of tension, a state of defense or in the event of an Alliance contingency. For Bundeswehr purposes, the area will be available again as from 2041.

The benchmark paper becomes a contract

By the end of the first quarter of 2024, the established key issues paper will be translated into a contract between the Federal Ministry of Defense, the Institute for Federal Real Estate and the investor group on the temporary use of the Warnowwerft shipyard’s southern section.

by Dennis König  email