TKMS Builds Two More Submarines for Singapore, to Be Manufactured in Wismar
Two additional submarines are being built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for Singapore. - TKMS constructs two additional submarines for Singapore's navy fleet
Let's dive into the latest scoop - yet another billion-dollar deal for the German submarine builder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)! Singapore has placed an order for two more submarines, with production expected to commence in Wismar, not Kiel, as revealed by TKMS's CEO, Oliver Burkhard.
This contract extends TKMS's already impressive order book, standing around a whopping 16 billion euros. The additional boats, part of the Type 218SG, will fit comfortably within current production capacities in Germany, even with high utilization rates well into the 2040s. The estimated value for the two 70-meter-long vessels is likely exceeding one billion euros, although TKMS refrains from confirming this.
A Ferocious Sau also for Singapore
Remember those four submarines Singapore already had built in Kiel? Well, they're still a hit! In late 2022, then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Singapore's then-Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, attended the christening of two submarines on the fjord. These are the larger submarines constructed in Germany since World War II and sport an air-independent fuel cell propulsion system with a crew of 28.
Unstoppable Growth for TKMS in Wismar
In December 2022, the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the construction of four more modern Type 212CD submarines for the German Navy, amounting to 4.7 billion euros. Norway has also expressed interest in increasing its number of submarines.
TKMS intends to fully develop its subsidiary in Wismar as a submarine production site. Current employment indicates no issues with recruitment, and with future plans to create a total of 1,500 jobs in Wismar.
Whether the Singaporean-built boats follow the Kiel models or are significantly modified to accommodate the Wismar facility, remains unclear. "Transferring the construct of submarines 5 and 6 to Wismar with the knowledge from the Kiel builds and the fresh momentum provided by Wismar's production will prove advantageous," Burkhard notes confidently.
Ambitions Beyond European Shores
With around 8,000 workers at three shipyards (Kiel, Wismar, and Itajaí, Brazil) and various worldwide sites, TKMS stands tall as a global leader in the maritime industry.
TKMS has set its sights on expansion beyond Europe. Burkhard is making considerable efforts in marketing TKMS's services to Canada, estrategically planning to open an independent Canadian office by the end of May. Submarine cooperation between Germany, Norway, and Canada, with the Type 212CD submarine class designed for joint use among various navies, raises intriguing possibilities.
Will Canada jump aboard the TKMS submarine train in the near future? Only time will tell. In any case, it's promising to see the German-based company making strides in the world market.
- Singapore's order for two more Type 218SG submarines, a continuation of the vessels already built in Kiel, will be manufactured in Wismar, following TKMS's ambition to fully develop its subsidiary in Wismar as a submarine production site.
- In 2022, TKMS expects an increase in its employment in Wismar, aiming to create a total of 1,500 jobs, as the company targets growth beyond European shores, with Burkhard's efforts to open an independent Canadian office by the end of May.
- As TKMS continues to build submarines for Singapore, adhering to the air-independent fuel cell propulsion system, the company's utilization rates are projected to be high well into the 2040s, indicating the substantial growth and expansion of the company's operations in various locations worldwide.
