Should a new shipyard for hull production be established in Denmark

[Saithan]

DEBATE. Denmark must ensure security of supply in the maritime area, the government has previously announced. However, the solution is not to establish a naval shipyard and produce the hulls yourself, believes former project manager Peter M. Legêne, who here gives his take on how the project should be approached.​

Almost a year ago, the consortium Danske Patruljeskibe K/S offered itself as a total supplier for the Swedish Navy's future patrol ships. Most recently, the National Partnership has come forward with a report on the socio-economic potential of building new ships in Denmark . The purpose of the report is to examine the possibilities of expanding and maintaining a national shipbuilding capacity. The report recommends, among other things, that ship hulls be built in Denmark.

The Labor Movement's Business Council's forecast for the development in Denmark shows that we lack 99,000 skilled workers in 2030 . Creation of a new Danish shipyard for hull production of steel hulls for Danish naval vessels will reinforce the lack of labour.

Production of ship hulls in Denmark will drain personnel resources (shipbuilders, blacksmiths, electricians, etc.) from existing Danish shipyards and companies, which today and in the future must repair and maintain the Navy's ships and vessels, and lead to a shortage of labor there. Lack of labor will traditionally lead to wage pressure, wage increases and increased inflation, which we do not need at the moment.

It is claimed in the report that building ship hulls in Denmark increases security of supply. Is it the hull itself that increases security of supply? The answer is no! Ship hulls in the Swedish Navy have traditionally had a lifespan of 30-40 years. On the other hand, the critical supply is the systems that are built into the hull, namely propulsion machinery, auxiliary machinery etc. as well as sensors, information systems and weapons.

Production facilities will cost billions​

Propulsion machinery, auxiliary machinery and most weapon systems are not produced in Denmark, so it is surprising that it is precisely the hull production that must take place in Denmark in order to increase security of supply.

Military systems are typically updated once or twice during the lifetime of the ship's hull and, as mentioned, are typically purchased from companies abroad. Hull production in Denmark is still dependent on imports of shipbuilding steel from abroad. So it's like that with increased security of supply.

I have noted that in the National Partnership's report (recommendation 4) it is recommended that the Armed Forces make demands on the use of robotic technologies. I just want to mention that it is not good Latin to make demands on the manufacturer's choice of technical solutions. This reduces his options for creative and cheaper solutions.

I have also noted that the Partnership recommends that the Norwegian Armed Forces commit to a strategic plan for ship procurement over a period of 20-25 years. The binding probably also applies to the political level – those who grant the acquisition! Who can say what the security political situation will look like in just five, ten or fifteen years?

Karstensen Shipyard (KS) delivered the third unit of the "Knud Rasmussen" class to the Norwegian Navy in 2016. The vessels were delivered at the agreed time and price. The ship's hulls were produced in Poland and subsequently towed to Skagen for completion in the shipyard's and the Navy's workshops. Today, KS owns its own shipyard in Poland.

Establishing production facilities in Odense will cost several billion. An amount of NOK 2.4 billion is mentioned, but to this are additional costs for location in relation to quay facilities, land, etc. So additional billions will probably have to be set aside for the project. Finally, the robot technology must be fully developed – it must be considered a development project with the uncertainty associated with it – so that further years can pass with increased costs.

Built in Poland, and fully equipped in Denmark​

In order to fulfill the Defense's wish for the delivery of the first patrol ship, a decision on the establishment of a hull production facility must be made in mid-2024, cf. Danske Patruljeskibe K/S. So the delivery date has already been exceeded. Politically, the acquisition must be approved, but the political situation may make it difficult for a timely decision to be made, so further delays must be anticipated.

An existing solution that does not require multibillion-dollar investments is therefore right in front of you: KS produces the six ship hulls at their shipyard in Poland, and the capacity of the larger Danish shipyards is used to fully equip the units. A monopoly agreement can be entered into with the larger Danish shipyards, where the profit is locked in on a negotiated basis. The proposed solution is absolutely the most risk-free investment for the acquisition of new vessels for the Norwegian Navy.

In response to my initial question, whether hull production for patrol ships should be carried out in Denmark, the answer is NO. Defense funds can be better spent elsewhere.

I have noted that the future patrol ships (read: corvettes) are designed to be part of the solution to the marine environment task. There must have been a technological breakthrough! It has previously been investigated whether requirements for a warship could be reconciled with the tasks that environmental ships must solve. This was not possible. Instead, from the political side, the procurement of environmental ships should be initiated. It is high time.

OLFI - Skal der etableres et nyt orlogsværft for skrogproduktion i Danmark?

For knap et år siden tilbød konsortiet Danske Patruljeskibe K/S sig som totalleverandør til Søværnets kommende patruljeskibe. Senest har Nationalt Partnerskab

olfi.dk

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Whilst I understand the economic pov of the article. It's a very common approach to "defense" in Denmark.

The question I feel compelled to ask is: Is it possible to have a hybrid shipyard that does both. All for the purpose of retaining shipbuilding capability, and competent workforce.

If not, a cooperation among the Scandinavian countries would be preferable, especially because of historic cooperation and that would be a better solution. The work force in these countries are moving around freely so it would contribute to retaining the said competencies and knowhow.

 

[Saithan]

Leaked report reveals gigantic warship plan for 40 billion​

Several ministries are behind the report, which speaks warmly of building ship hulls for billions in Denmark. But that is unrealistic, say critics.

Model of the future patrol ships, which are among the many ships to be built for the Norwegian Navy in the next 20 years. Photo: Danish Patrol Ships
20 May at 08.37

On Tuesday, ministers, top officials and representatives of the industry will publish a large-scale plan for how Denmark, with the help of massive investments, will be equipped to be self-sufficient with the new construction of 55 new warships for the Norwegian Navy.
TV 2 can already, based on a leaked draft of the report from "National partnership for the maritime area" - commissioned by the Ministry of Defense - lift the veil on a series of recommendations that will generate thousands of jobs, create new export opportunities and make Denmark a nation again , which is self-sufficient in warships.

Director Kent Damgård from Karstensens Shipyard has completed several ships for the Swedish Navy but does not believe that production of ship hulls can be revived in Denmark Photo: Torben Hedemose / TV 2
In the foreword to the report, CEO of Danske Rederier, Anne H. Steffensen, strikes an ambitious tone with the question:
"Can we design, build, equip and maintain warships in Denmark that support the future needs of the Armed Forces?"
She provides the answer herself: "Cut right down to the bone, the answer is yes".


- It makes no sense that we in Denmark have to build warships from scratch, says former rear admiral Torben Ørting Jørgensen, who believes that the actual construction of ship hulls should continue to take place at foreign shipyards:

The hull of the inspection vessel Lauge Koch is built in Poland. It was then completed in 2016 in Skagen Photo: Jacob Kongsmark / Forsvarsgalleriet

- We shut down that part of our shipbuilding many years ago. If you now want to reinvent it, it is more about catering to the industry rather than the Navy, which is clamoring for modern warships to be delivered quickly, he says.

End decades of cuts​

The report from the maritime partnership has been prepared by the heaviest actors in the field. Among others, the Ministry of Defence, the Defense Command, Danish Industry and several trade unions led by the Shipping Association.

Here it is suggested that Denmark should invest massively in the construction of new warships. The plan is that every year the Norwegian Navy will have delivered one larger ship and several smaller ones from Danish shipyards in North Jutland and on Funen.

At Odense Steel Shipyard, ship hulls were previously produced, but when the Navy's frigates were equipped, it was done on ship hulls built in the Baltic countries Photo: Søren Bidstrup / Scanpix Denmark

All in the wake of decades of cutbacks in the Armed Forces as the threat to Denmark disappeared after the fall of the wall.
- Those times are over. The peace dividend has been eaten up, says Anne H. Steffensen, who calls for Denmark to become more self-sufficient when it comes to warships:

- The times call for a new and different approach to national security.

Three yards are in play​

In the draft report from the maritime partnership, three shipyards are identified with the potential to build larger warships

• Karstensen Shipyard in Skagen, which today builds up to 6 fishing trawlers per year
• Orskov Yard in Frederikshavn, which among other things repairs the Navy's ships
• Fayard, the old Lindøværft on Funen, which is also a repair yard.

In addition, there are a number of smaller shipyards that build smaller fishing vessels and sailing vessels

Divided opinions on ship hull construction​

One of the big questions is how much of the shipbuilding can be done in Denmark, where warships have not been built from scratch for over 20 years.

The latest deliveries to the Norwegian Navy are the arctic Knud Rasmussen vessels from Karstensen Shipyard in Skagen. Here, the hull was built in Poland, after which it was fitted out and completed in Skagen.

Karstensen's Shipyard has its own shipyard in Poland, which is responsible for building the hulls. This constitutes approximately half of the work involved in building a ship Photo: Torben Hedemose / TV 2

Before that, the frigates were completed at the Lindø shipyard on Funen, while the hull was built in the Baltic countries.
In the draft of the report, several models are described for how hull construction, which makes up approximately half of the production, can take place in Denmark:

- However, there is future potential within hull production in Denmark, states the report, which points to opportunities for the use of advanced robotic technology at the former Lindø shipyard.

- In the future, this could have a major impact on shipbuilding, which in the long run could make Denmark less dependent on hull production in other countries, it says.

Paper warships​

The report describes how a national ship factory can be built in Denmark with a modern industrial hall 160 meters in length at a cost of DKK 2.4 billion and a need for up to 800 employees to build ship hulls.

Today, Skagen has Denmark's only shipyard with new construction of large ships, but the lack of labor prevents them from building more than six a year, says director Kent Damgård Photo: Torben Hedemose / TV 2

But according to Denmark's largest shipyard in Skagen, it is unrealistic to provide such a large workforce.

- We could employ 200 employees now and then, if they existed. But the problem is that they don't, says director Kent Damgård.

He therefore says no thanks to a new industrial hall for hull construction at Karstensen's Shipyard, which today has hulls built at their own shipyard in Poland.

- We call these plans paper warships. It is good to have some visions, and we would like to help equip the warships of the future. But building the ships from scratch in Denmark looks better on paper than in reality. It is not realistic, he says.

Money in the coffers from the sale of used ships​

The draft ship report states that there is a need for a long-term plan for the replacement of warships 20-25 years into the future.

The Arctic inspection ships are over 30 years old and spend more and more time with expensive repairs at Danish shipyards. Photo: TV 2
In addition, it must be ensured that the orders go to Danish shipyards by using the exception provisions for public tenders in EU law.

A plan must be made for the resale of used warships, which can contribute to financing and reduce the need for repairs.
And so the way is paved for a large-scale expansion of the Danish shipyards, which from 2030 will build a larger warship and 2-3 smaller ships per year.

The Norwegian Defense Command estimates that the Swedish Navy will need 15 large ships and 40 smaller ones over the next two decades, the report says.

- This could revolutionize shipbuilding in Denmark, says Jenny Braat, who is managing director of the trade association for the ship industry, Danske Maritime.

- There is no doubt that if we want to deliver warships and want security of supply, then we must consider ensuring that the hull part also becomes part of the concept, she says.

Jenny Braat points out that with the help of robotic technology and foreign labor it is possible to resume hull production in Denmark.

Long-term fleet plan underway​

Politically, there is broad agreement that a large part of the Navy's ships have long since exceeded their expiry date. The four inspection ships that sail in the North Atlantic and Greenland are over 30 years old and spend more and more time in repair yards.

The Swedish Navy's environmental ship Gunnar Seidenfaden is over 40 years old and is currently docked in Skagen to be repaired Photo: TV 2

The environmental ships are even older, and the five smaller Diana-class patrol ships are unarmed and unable to counter the threat from Russian ships in the Baltic Sea.

Therefore, the government proposes that a long-term fleet plan for the replacement of the Navy's ships for up to DKK 40 billion be adopted this autumn.

According to Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (V), the plan must be based on the report from the maritime partnership. It will be presented in its final form at a press conference tomorrow with three ministers, Danish Industry, Danish Metal and a number of other top managers, who will receive the press at the Peder Skram museum ship in Copenhagen.

Lækket rapport afslører gigantisk plan om krigsskibe for 40 milliarder

Flere ministerier står bag rapport som taler varmt for at bygge skibsskrog for milliarder i Danmark. Men det er urealistisk, siger kritikere.

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