The History Lloyd Werft – A Summary

Development into a large business yard.

Origin and and evolution of the present Lloyd Werft is closely connected  with the Bremen company "North German Lloyd". In 1857 in Bremen this shipping line was opened and in the same year a small repair workshop to service its growing fleet. The repair workshop was a major success for NDL and in 1902 the repair workshops became an independent subsiduary of the company. However with the success it also became clear that the Bremen workshop was not adequate to handle the bigger ships. In 1863 another workshop in Bremerhaven was opened, initally the company only erected a single building and set up a small machine workshop. In 1869 NDL decided to expand its repair operations in Bremerhaven and began building a new dry dock and new workshops. This is the location of the current Lloyd Werft premises. It was not long before they had plans for a second dry-dock. In subsequent years and through the first half of our Century, between world wars and economic crises the yard cleverly adapted itself to the requirements of the ruling market of the period.

Opening for the World market

After the end of the second World War, the company began to slowly rebuild itself by firstly repairing ships belonging to the U.S. armed forces. During the 1950s years the company then opened  permanently as a repair operation for all types of ships and for customers of all Nations. This step brought success back to the yard.

In the beginning of the 1970s the shipyard, now under the name "Shipyard Hapag Lloyd" "AG", recieved a comprehensive modernization. New cranes, central work shops, an administration building and a department for stainless steel and Aluminium processing have been added.

The yard was well-equipped when the conditions of competition on the world market for shipbuilding and repair in the 1970s and 1980s dramatically increased. Thanks to its advanced equipment, qualified staff and new market strategies the company could remain competitive in the market.

Successful by specialization

In the Middle of the 1980s the ,Bremer Vulkun AG, took over the yard. And named the company as their subsiduary. A younger  "Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven GmbH" soon made the company a worldwide  name with the modification of large passenger ships, including ferries and Cruise ships. Within a short time they had spectacular major contracts ("France/Norway",) ("Queen Elizabeth 2", "Norwegian Sky") and the yard repeatedly demonstrated their performance capabilities.

Economic difficulties in the mid 1990s radicalised the situation for the yard,  the parent company, Bremer volcano AG, went into bankruptcy and consequently the yard was forced to open the conciliation procedures. With new Investors the company was again stabilized, and the continued existence could be secured as "Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven GmbH". The price for maintaining competitiveness was a reduction of 180 employees from 430. The introduction of  flatter hierarchical structures and adapting to the the equipping each work by more flexible working hours ensured companies for the future of the company.

Today is Lloyd Werft is renowned for their specialties world wide, the high-tech-passenger ship renovation and completion in record time. Shipping companies in Germany and abroad appreciate and know about the experience, the quality and expertise of the Bremerhaven company and its once again large team of 530 people.