The third of four 125-class frigates for the German Navy has been laid down at ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ Hamburg site.
The keel laying ceremony, attended by representatives from politics, defence and industry, marks an important milestone in the construction of the ship.
Baden-Württemberg, the first frigate, was christened in December 2013 and was undocked as planned earlier this year. Its delivery to the German Navy is scheduled for November 2016.
The other frigates are being built one after the other, with the last of the four ships due for delivery in 2019. The contract is worth around €2bn.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems heads the ARGE F125 consortium, which also includes Fr. Lürssen Werft, the company that was awarded the contract to build four F125-class ships for the German Navy in 2007.
The pre-fitted bow sections are being manufactured at the Fr. Lürssen Werft facility in Bremen and Wolgast, Germany. Construction of the stern sections, the joining of the two sections and further fitting, is being carried out at Blohm+Voss Shipyards in Hamburg, Germany.