First Vessel Due for Delivery 2025
NVL Group (formerly Lürssen Defence) and MTG Dolphin cade the first steel cut for the first of two Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) for the Bulgarian Navy on 3 December in Varna, Bulgaria. NVL Group is managing the programme, with a large supply chain of Bulgarian suppliers.
“We are very happy to attend the ceremony of launching construction of the first of two [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,” commented Rear Adm Mihaylov, Commander of the Bulgarian Navy.
“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, NVL’s Managing Director. “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 90m, 2,300t vessels are based on a proven design from the NVL portfolio, and feature an integrated Combat Management System. The units are predestined for tasks in support of NATO and EU international alliance missions, and they enable the Bulgarian Navy to counter aerial and land-based threats as well as surface and undersea threats.
The MMPV project, with a total value of approximately €420 million, is currently the largest new-build project for the Bulgarian Navy. Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, the second vessel a year later.
“Our [two] 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,” added Svetlin Stoyanov, CEO of MTG Dolphin.
The project is also having a positive impact on local value creation and employment. To date, 40 local employees have already been recruited through 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.
