Nordseewerke

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Nordseewerke GmbH
Type	Private
Genre	Shipbuilding
Founded	1903
Headquarters	Emden, Germany
Industry	Shipbuilding
Owner	ThyssenKrupp
Employees	1,400
Parent	ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems
Website	www.nordseewerke.de

Image:Nordseewerke.jpg

Nordseewerke in 2003

Nordseewerke (sometimes abbreviated NSWE) is a shipbuilding company located in Emden, Germany. It is now a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The name Nordseewerke means "North Sea shipyard" in German. The shipyard employs some 1,400 people and is the second-largest plant in Emden, following Volkswagen.

[edit] History

Nordseewerke was founded on March 11, 1903 and is currently one of the oldest among the still-existing shipyards in Germany. The company built many ships for Kaiserliche Marine during World War I and the Kriegsmarine during World War II as well as for the nowadays Deutsche Marine.

The shipyard has also constructed ships for use by other navies, like the Kobben (Type 207) and Ula (Klasse 210) class submarines for the Royal Norwegian Navy, which were made to operate in shallow, coastal waters. In the past 20 years, submarines were also exported to South Africa, Argentina and Israel.

Besides Navy ships, Nordseewerke builds container vessels and other freight ships. In 1971, the cruise liner Sea Venture (later renamed into Pacific Princess) was constructed. The ship is well-known as the film spot of The Love Boat.