Is MSC starting to build cruise ships itself?

MSC may acquire the Meyer Werft shipyard — the very one that builds ships for Disney and Carnival

MSC is in talks to acquire ~80% of the shares in the German Meyer Werft shipyard, which are currently owned by the German government.



According to Bloomberg, the discussions are still at a preliminary stage — no final decision has been made yet, and the deal may not go ahead.

Geneva, September 20, 2026. — Cruise and container shipping giant MSC is in talks to acquire around 80% of German shipbuilder Meyer Werft — the same shipyard that is currently building vessels for Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line. Bloomberg reported the information, citing people familiar with the matter.

Currently, 80.73% of the company is owned by the German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony, which acquired the stake in 2024 as part of an emergency rescue of the shipyard. The remaining 20% is still held by the Meyer family, which has managed the company for more than two centuries.

       
Consultation on any questions

How the government became the owner of the shipyard

The story began in 2024, when pandemic-related losses undermined banks' confidence in Meyer Werft's creditworthiness. To save the company, the federal government and Lower Saxony jointly invested €400 million (€200 million each) and provided guarantees covering 80% of a €2.6 billion credit line — enough to help complete the current order book at least through 2028.



The Meyer family retained a 20% ownership stake and received a preferential right to repurchase the government's stake if it decides to sell. State participation was intended to be temporary from the outset: the aim was to stabilize the company, protect jobs and eventually return the shipyard to private ownership. The authorities currently do not want to sell their stake at a loss compared with the funds invested — one of the key factors in the negotiations.

Why this is more than just an investment — it is a strategic move

The most interesting aspect of this story is the depth of the relationship between MSC and Meyer Werft even before any potential deal. In December 2025, the cruise division of MSC reached an agreement to build four new New Frontier-class ships at the shipyard, each measuring 180,000 GT, with annual deliveries beginning in 2030, plus an option for two additional vessels. In June 2026, Meyer Werft said that contract negotiations for this order had reached their final stage.



Acquiring the shipbuilder would give MSC its own construction slots for new ships for years to come — and, according to analysts, could potentially restrict competitors' access to that capacity. The shipyard remains one of only a handful of European facilities capable of building mega cruise ships of this class, while the industry's order books are currently packed.

Meyer Werft in numbers: 230 years of history

The shipyard was founded in 1795 as a builder of wooden ships. Today, several thousand people are directly employed at the Papenburg facility near the Dutch border, while the company estimates that more than 20,000 jobs in the region are connected to the shipyard through its supplier network. A possible sale would cover both of the company's production facilities — Papenburg and the shipyard in Rostock on the Baltic coast.

MSC's broader strategy in Europe



Meyer Werft is not the only shipbuilding asset that has attracted MSC's interest this year. The group is also exploring the possibility of acquiring the bankrupt Mangalia shipyard in Romania together with German defense group Rheinmetall — with the intention of turning the Black Sea facility into a dual-use center. The Aponte family, which controls MSC, has for years been expanding far beyond container and cruise shipping — into port terminals, logistics and now, apparently, shipbuilding itself.

So far, there have been no official comments from MSC, Meyer Werft or the German government — the negotiations may result in a deal, or they may end without one.

       
Consultation on any questions

>>>Cruises aboard MSC Cruises ships

You can book cruises on our website: