The company was originated in Genting Hong Kong's purchase in April 2016 of three shipyards from Nordic Yards, located in Wismar, Stralsund, and Rostock-Warnemünde. The yards were initially combined with Lloyd Werft, previously purchased by Genting, to form the Lloyd Werft Group, but in July 2016 the three eastern ex-Nordic yards were organized into MV Werften, headquartered in Wismar and led by Jarmo Laakso. In August 2016, MV Werften's first newbuild vessels, two river cruise ships of the Rhine class named Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler, were laid down at the Wismar shipyard. In November, Genting Hong Kong publicized further plans for its shipbuilding plans at MV Werften—four river cruise vessels for Crystal Cruises under the Crystal River Cruises brand to be delivered in 2017 and 2018, followed by a 20,000 GT Endeavor class yacht annually for Crystal Yacht Cruises in 2019—2021, with Dream Cruises receiving a Global class cruise ship in 2020 and a sister ship the flowing year. At full capacity post-2021, the three shipyards are planned to be able to build two vessels of both the Endeavor and Global classes annually. under construction The first Rhine class vessel, Crystal Bach, was delivered in August 2017, followed by Crystal Mahler in September. In January 2018, shipbuilding began at the Stralsund shipyard with a ceremony for the first steelcutting in the construction of Crystal Endeavor'', the first Endeavor class yacht. In March, construction of the first Global class ship began, with components to be built at both the Rostock and Wismar yards and the vessel assembled in Wismar. In December 2019, Genting Hong Kong announced that MV Werften would build a new class of mid-size cruise ships, named the Universal class, which would measure 88,000 gross tons with a capacity for 2,000 passengers. The first ship of the class was scheduled for delivery in late 2022, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic MV Werften closed temporarily in March 2020, which delayed the expected deliveries of both Universal and Global class vessels. In July 2020, MV Werften received €175 million in financial aid from a consortium of commercial and state sources, which was expected to keep the shipyard solvent until an expected federal aid package of up to €570 million later in the year.
Facilities
MV Werften's largest shipyard is in Rostock, with of total space, of which is covered. When Genting Hong Kong purchased the yard, it had a single shipbuilding hall measuring long by wide, with an interior clearance of. In August 2017, construction began on a second hall, by by, to support construction of Global class ships by building large modules. The Wismar shipyard is in size, of which is covered, and has a by by building hall. The Stralsund yard is, of which is covered, and has a by by building hall.