New German Navy Frigate Delayed

The German Navy will receive the first of four new ships ordered from ThyssenKrupp later than expected, the defense ministry and the company said on Monday, confirming a newspaper report.

Daily newspaper Kieler Nachrichten had reported that the first of the Class 125 frigates costing US$885 million each would be delivered in 2017 rather than in 2016 as previously planned.

It cited unspecified sources as saying a flame-retardant coating had peeled off the ship's hull, requiring some segments that had already been welded to be re-opened and causing additional costs of up to 100 million euros ($1 = 0.7345 euros). The paper said the German military wanted the shipyards - ThyssenKrupp's Blohm + Voss and its partner Luerssen Werft - to shoulder the additional costs.

A defense ministry spokesman confirmed there had been a delay, but did not provide further details.

ThyssenKrupp said a new schedule for delivery had been agreed with the navy, but also did not provide details. "The problems that occurred in the application of parts of the internal coating have largely been resolved," it said in a statement.

The 150-meter Class 125 frigate is designed to be able to remain in a crisis region for up to two years without base or dockyard maintenance, compared with nine months for previous models. It also requires a smaller crew.