Crane problem in Stralsund: Volkswerft is threatened with significant consequences!

Crane problem in Stralsund: Volkswerft is threatened with significant consequences!

There are currently serious problems for the Volkswerft maritime business park in Stralsund. The slipway crane “Neptun 3” did not receive a new operating license and was shut down. This bad news particularly affects the businesses in the business park that rely on this crane to complete their work efficiently. City spokesman Peter Koslik confirmed that the crane was taken out of service due to a lack of permits and that various alternatives are now being examined. So far, the amount of possible repair costs and the exact circumstances of the defect are unclear. Until a solution is found, companies are forced to rent a large crane while paying for smaller equipment themselves, which creates additional financial burdens.

This situation highlights the challenges that Volkswerft has faced in recent years. ndr.de describes the Volkswerft as the industrial backbone of the city for many decades, where several thousand shipbuilders once worked. Today the area is part of a maritime industrial park that the city of Stralsund acquired in spring 2022 for 16.5 million euros and has been operating since then. Mayor Alexander Badrow (CDU) has decided to create at least 1,000 jobs. However, at the moment only around 250 people are employed at the business park after major interested parties such as the Norwegian Fosen shipyard and the Rostock offshore turbine manufacturer EEW withdrew. Critics are now calling for a revision of the business park's usage concept, for which an application was also submitted at the last citizens' meeting.

A maritime heritage facing challenges

The Volkswerft, a symbol of the maritime tradition in Stralsund, is currently under pressure with the running costs of around 500,000 euros per month for operating the 34-hectare industrial park. The question remains: What does the future of the former shipyard look like? Dr. Bernhard Brons, chairman of the IHK Nord, points out that shipbuilding and the port industry in Germany are struggling with increasing pressure. The economic outlook has deteriorated significantly compared to the previous year, as the IHK Nord industry survey shows. The main concerns of maritime companies are rising labor costs, energy and raw material prices and the shortage of skilled workers, which are putting a significant strain on the business climate.

The winter challenges that are already being felt in shipping are not making the situation any easier for shipyard prospects. Ongoing uncertainties in the federal government's financing of the port infrastructure are hindering urgently needed investments. Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of hope: an interest group of shipbuilding companies was founded in spring 2025 to develop innovative solutions for the market and thus contribute to strengthening the industry. As possible competitive factors, companies hope that the trade union association will create better conditions for future development.
deutscher-marinebund.de.

It remains to be hoped that the city of Stralsund and the companies involved will learn from the current difficulties and develop new concepts to revitalize the shipyard and give new impetus to the maritime industry. The history of the Volkswerft is rich in tradition, and its future is crucial to the city's economic stability.