Steel cutting ceremony for the MMPV project
Varna, December 3, 2021 - Germany's NVL Group, formerly Lürssen Defence, and its local shipyard partner MTG Dolphin, today joined representatives of the contracting authority to launch construction of the first of two Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) for the Bulgarian Navy in Varna, Bulgaria.
The highlight of the traditional steel cutting ceremony was the power-up of the plasma cutting system for the first steel cut. Both vessels are being built at MTG Dolphin in Varna under the management of NVL Group and with the involvement of numerous Bulgarian suppliers.
"We are very happy to attend the ceremony of launching construction of the first of two Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV). These ships will enable the Bulgarian Navy to fulfil all tasks for defending national maritime interests and will give us the opportunity to fully participate in NATO and EU operations and missions.", Commander of the Bulgarian Navy, rear admiral Mihaylov was happy to report.
"With the start of steel cutting, we are entering the production phase as planned. The milestone reached today is also an expression of the trusting relationship with our customer and the constructive cooperation with our partner MTG Dolphin. To successfully launch ships of such complexity, efficient, trusting and cooperative partnerships are essential. This applies to the cooperation with the shipyard as much as to that with our numerous local and international suppliers," explained Dirk Malgowski, Managing Director of NVL B.V. & Co. KG. "We will now move full steam ahead into the manufacturing process and I am confident that we will seamlessly carry on with the commitment that all parties to this project have brought to the table in the past."
The vessels, which are around 90 meters long, with around 2,300 tons of displacement, are based on a proven design from the NVL portfolio, and feature an integrated Combat Management System. The units are predestined for tasks within the framework of international alliance missions of NATO and the EU andenable the Bulgarian Navy to counter air- and land-based threats as well as surface and undersea threats.
The MMPV project, with a total volume of around 420 million euros, is currently the largest newbuild project of the Bulgarian Navy. Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, and the second vessel a year later.
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"Our both companies have known each other for many years and are family-run, which greatly facilitates mutual understanding and our team work. The strengths of the companies – shipbuilding capabilities and competitive cost structures on the Bulgarian side as well as system and integration expertise and wide experience as prime contractor on the German side – will facilitate the successful project completion," said Svetlin Stoyanov, CEO of MTG Dolphin.
Meanwhile, the project is also having a positive impact on local value creation and employment. To date, 40 local employees have already been recruited through NTB (Naval Technology Bulgaria), a company newly established by NVL Group. In addition, numerous local suppliers, for example for interior fittings, insulation or air-conditioning, are gradually being integrated into the project, thus indirectly creating new jobs.
NVL Group – The DNA of shipbuilding
The NVL Group is an independent, privately owned group of renowned Northern German shipyards and related companies with more than 1,500 highly qualified employees. Our experienced teams exceed customer expectations by listening carefully to their ideas, understanding their specific requirements, and delivering high-quality naval and coast guard vessels as well as comprehensive services throughout the entire life cycle of their fleets. We have completed more than 1,000 naval vessels and coast guard vessels since our beginnings in the late 1870s, and have built and repaired ships for both the German Navy and fleets in over 50 countries. Today, construction at our network of shipyards is supplemented by licensed manufacture at customer facilities around the world under technology transfer arrangements.
As an independent enterprise, we remain flexible to market changes and operate a dynamic, safe and futureoriented business for our valued customers, employees, partners and the community. We work as one team and have deep roots in shipbuilding. It is part of our DNA – the DNA of shipbuilding.
MTG Dolphin
MTG Dolphin is a private family shipyard located in Varna, Bulgaria and established 30 years ago. We rely on over 500 professionals who contribute to our success and to establishing a reputation as a reliable partner for complex shipbuilding projects and demanding ship repairs of various types of vessels. Our products are mainly for export and our customers are among the leading shipowners in the world. We have successfully delivered 26 newly built ships for the last 10 years and in the meantime we have repaired more than 1450 ships since the beginning of our company’s activity. We are motivated to constantly upgrade what we have achieved in order to improve the products and services we provide to our customers.
Because we care about every single ship and customer.
NVL PRESS RELEASE
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Press contact: Oliver Grün, +49 421 6604 430, +49 171 3048 679, oliver.gruen@nvl.de
