Abeking & Rasmussen Yachts

The place of my childhood. This shipyard has experienced its fair share of ups and downs over the past 25 to 30 years—so much so that it seems to have changed hands more times than I can count on both hands.

Later in my career as a newbuild broker for commercial vessels, we attempted to support the yard by placing orders for larger car/truck ferries. However, after leaving Germany and charting my current course, I lost track of its developments - until the controversial former owner of M/Y GLOBAL took over FSG and Nobiskrug. The past three years must have been incredibly tough for their staff, with delayed salary payments, a lack of new contracts, and even the German government becoming cautious about awarding federal shipbuilding orders.

Now, with the news that Lürssen is taking over Nobiskrug - which makes perfect sense -it also appears that a new owner is emerging for Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG). According to the German press, the Heinrich Rönner Group is likely to be the next owner. This is promising news, given the group’s strong foothold in the maritime industry, controlling companies that are actively involved in yacht building, whether as builders or subcontractors. Names like Lloyd Werft, Stahlbau Nord, and Bredo Drydocks—all based in Bremerhaven—are under the Umbrella of the Rönner Group.

I wish them all the best for the future. Perhaps it’s time for me to keep a closer eye on their next steps. Who knows? Maybe FSG will get another opportunity in hull fabrication, much like when Abeking & Rasmussen outsourced AVIVA’s construction to them back in the day.