What Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel does

Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel GmbH is a sixth-generation, family-owned German shipyard headquartered in Derben, Saxony-Anhalt, that constructs, reconstructs, and repairs small-to-mid-sized vessels (13-80 meters in length) primarily for German federal and state government clients. Founded in 1799 by Friedrich Lösche and reacquired by Hermann Barthel after German reunification in 1990, the company operates two enclosed shipbuilding halls (60m x 12m and 30m x 14m) plus a modernized slipway system capable of handling vessels up to 80 meters on the hardstand and approximately 100 meters for land-based repair via the Elbe waterway. Production is supported by an in-house CAD-equipped construction department and a workforce of approximately 30 production staff.

The company's product portfolio spans work boats (the 'Spatz' type with over 100 units built), patrol and supervision boats, icebreakers, ferries, inland and ocean-going passenger ships, catamarans, pilot boats, police boats, barges, and hydrographic surveying vessels, all built in steel, aluminum, or stainless steel to customer specification. Reconstruction services cover engine and gearbox replacement, cabin refits, and hull midsection insertions. The reference list is dominated by the Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (federal waterways administration) and its regional directorates — 17 vessels alone for WSA Ost — alongside state water police forces (Hamburg, Lower Saxony), port authorities (Hamburg Port Authority, bremenports), tourism operators (Reederei Riedel, ATG, Seetouristik Brauns), and selected international government clients in Romania (AFDJ Galati) and Cameroon (Port Douala). Recent deliveries include electric and hybrid-propulsion vessels such as Alsterschwan and Seeadler.

The business model is project-based, custom-quoted B2B shipbuilding sold directly to government procurement offices and commercial operators without published price lists. Revenue is not disclosed. Marketing is driven by the corporate website (barthel-werft.de) in German and English, long-standing government relationships, and a network of specialized component suppliers including Kongsberg Maritime, Alphatron Marine, Side-Power, and ABS Hydraulics. EU funding via EFRE and ESF has supported facility modernization and vocational training. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, which is effectively a prerequisite for continued WSV procurement eligibility.

Name

Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel

Legal name

Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel GmbH

Website

https://barthel-werft.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1799

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel is a sixth-generation family-owned German shipyard in Derben, founded in 1799, that builds, reconstructs, and repairs custom 13-80m vessels — including work boats, ferries, police boats, and surveying ships — for German federal waterways authorities, state water police, and commercial operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Shipbuilding

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (SAR) & Lifeboats (IMAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mechanical Systems Repair (Engines, Propulsion, Pumps) (TLAKAKAF), Hull, Structure & Steelwork Repair (TLAKAKAE), Piping, HVAC & Auxiliary Systems Repair (TLAKAKAH)

Keywords

• Ship construction services
• Ship repair services
• Vessel reconstruction
• Custom commercial shipbuilding
• Workboat manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Derben

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ship New Construction: Custom shipbuilding to customer specifications including work boats, patrol boats, ferries, passenger ships, icebreakers, catamarans, pilot boats, police boats, prams/barges, surveying vessels, and ocean-going passenger ships. Dimensions range from 13-80m length, up to 9m width, and 0.5-1.3m draught.
2. Ship Reconstruction: Revitalization services including engine/gear replacement, cabin refits, passenger area modifications, and midsection insertions into existing hulls
3. Ship Repair: Professional repair services for ships accessible via the Elbe waterway. Land-based repairs possible for vessels up to approximately 100m using six slipways.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel is a German commercial shipyard that designs, builds, reconstructs, and repairs custom vessels in steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Output covers patrol boats, police boats, icebreakers, ferries, passenger ships, catamarans, pilot boats, barges, and surveying vessels for government agencies and commercial shipping operators. The shipyard combines new-build fabrication, conversion work, and maintenance services on a single site in Derben, Germany.

Product overview

Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel GmbH is a traditional German shipbuilding company offering three integrated service lines: ship construction (Schiffbau), ship reconstruction (Umbauten), and ship repair (Reparaturen). The core ship construction portfolio encompasses over a dozen distinct vessel types — work boats (Arbeitsschiffe), patrol/supervision boats (Aufsichtsschiffe), barges with excavators (Baggerprahme), icebreakers (Eisbrecher), ferries (Fähren), passenger ships (Fahrgastschiffe), ocean-going passenger ships (Hochseetaugliche Fahrgastschiffe), catamarans (Katamarane), pilot boats (Lotsenboote), police boats (Polizeiboote), prams and barges (Prahme und Schuten), and surveying vessels (Vermessungsschiffe) — all built to customer specifications. Reconstruction covers engine/gearbox replacement, cabin refits, and hull modifications. Repairs are performed both via waterway access and land-based slipways for vessels up to ~100 m. Together, these form a full lifecycle offering from design through construction, modification, and ongoing maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ship Construction (Schiffbau) Custom design and new-build of commercial vessels in steel, aluminum, and stainless steel for government agencies and commercial shipping operators. Output includes patrol boats, police boats, icebreakers, ferries, passenger ships, catamarans, pilot boats, barges, and surveying vessels.
• Ship Reconstruction (Umbauten) Conversion, refit, and major modification of existing vessels to extend service life, change mission profile, or upgrade technical systems. Performed in-house using the company design office.
• Ship Repair (Reparaturen) Maintenance and repair services for commercial vessels, including structural work, surface treatment (sandblasting and painting), and technical overhauls.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 ships completed, repaired, or modernized since 1990 reunification
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• IEA Genthin GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationElectronics and electrical engineering partner providing ship electrical systems and components for vessel construction projects
• Alphatron Marine BVsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNavigation systems supplier providing marine electronics and navigation equipment for vessels built by the shipyard
• E&M Engel & Meier, Schiffselektronik DuisburgsupportingTechnology or IntegrationShip electronics specialist providing electrical systems and components for vessels built at the shipyard
• Genthiner Stahl- und Maschinenbau GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSteel processing and machining partner providing plate cutting and steel structure components
• SGB Ingenieur- und Stahlbau GmbH, EisenhüttenstadtsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSteel construction engineering partner providing structural steel components and fabrication services
• K+N Isoliertechnik, StendalsupportingTechnology or IntegrationInsulation services provider for ship insulation work during construction and reconstruction projects
• Raumausstatter Norbert Pelka, TangermündesupportingOthersInterior furnishing specialist providing floor coverings, curtains, and interior textile work for passenger vessels
• Schiffs- und Bautischlerei Bolle, NeuderbensupportingTechnology or IntegrationShip and building joinery specialist providing carpentry and woodwork for vessel interiors and fittings
• Tischlerei Berndt, TangermündesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCarpentry services providing custom woodwork and cabinetry for ship interiors
• Maler und Korrosionsschutz Meier, MagdeburgsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPainting and corrosion protection services for ship hulls and steel structures
• ABS Hydraulics B.V., NL-VeendamsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBow thruster supplier providing hydraulic thruster systems for vessel maneuverability
• Side-PowersupportingTechnology or IntegrationBow thruster manufacturer providing thruster systems for vessel maneuverability applications
• Kongsberg Maritime, NorwaysupportingTechnology or IntegrationSurveying systems and marine technology supplier providing navigation, positioning, and survey equipment for surveying vessels
• Meerestechnisches Büro Torsten TurlasupportingTechnology or IntegrationMarine technology consultancy providing surveying systems and technical consulting for measurement vessels
• Nautilus Marine Service GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMarine service provider offering surveying systems and technical services for vessels

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ocea: French family-owned shipyard specializing in aluminum and steel patrol boats, workboats and passenger vessels for coast guards, ports and waterway authorities. Comparable in product mix (patrol, workboat, ferry) and government/civil customer base.
• De Hoop Shipyard: Dutch inland shipyard building ferries, patrol vessels and workboats for European waterway and port operators. Directly comparable product range (ferries, patrol, workboats) and similar European government / commercial customer mix.
• CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie): French shipyard building fast patrol boats, interceptors and specialized aluminum vessels for navies, coast guards and law-enforcement agencies. Comparable on patrol and government-vessel niche, with similar mid-size yard profile.
• Holland Shipyard Group: Dutch inland shipyard group building workboats, patrol vessels and specialized vessels for inland and coastal applications. Comparable niche focus on European inland-waterway and government clients.
• Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG: German family-owned shipyard (founded 1850) building patrol boats, lifeboats, workboats and naval vessels for coast guards and waterway authorities. Highly comparable to Barthel in heritage, scale, customer base (government / public-sector patrol craft) and inland-waterway product focus.

Broad incumbents

• Austal: Australian-listed shipbuilder known for high-speed ferries, naval and patrol vessels in aluminum. Overlaps with Barthel on passenger ferries and patrol boats, but operates at significantly larger scale across defense and commercial transport.
• Astilleros Armón: Spanish mid-size shipyard group with product lines spanning tugboats, patrol vessels, fishing boats and small ferries. Comparable across the small-craft, patrol and workboat segments for public-sector buyers, primarily serving Iberian and African markets.
• Damen Shipyards Group: Largest Dutch shipbuilding group with an extensive workboat, patrol vessel and ferry portfolio. Overlaps directly with Barthel on workboats, patrol boats and ferries, but at far greater scale and with broader commercial/government reach.
• Blohm+Voss (Lürssen group): Hamburg-based shipyard (part of Lürssen) building naval and complex special vessels including patrol boats. Comparable on Hamburg-region naval/patrol vessel expertise, but at vastly greater scale and capability.

Emerging players

• Strategic Marine: Singapore-headquartered builder of fast ferries, patrol boats and wind-farm vessels. Comparable in aluminum/steel small-craft construction for commercial and government buyers, though focused on Southeast Asian and Australian markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schiffswerft-hermann-barthel-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schiffswerft Hermann Barthel