Founded in 1995, the Romanian Shipbuilders Association (ANCONAV) represents the interests of Romanian shipyards and producers and distributors of equipment and raw materials, both nationally and internationally. A member of SEA Europe, the European shipbuilding and maritime equipment association, ANCONAV brings together members from various segments of the maritime industry—high-performing companies that contribute to maintaining the reputation of Romanian shipbuilding in Europe and around the world. At the same time, ANCONAV serves as a responsible dialogue partner with the Romanian government, actively supporting the promotion of its members’ interests.
The professionalism of Romanian shipbuilders is recognized internationally, with Romania being a preferred destination for the construction of technical and commercial vessels in Europe. In recent years, the horizontal industry has also experienced spectacular growth, supporting the performance of the shipyards. Through ANCONAV, key suppliers in Romania can promote their interests at the international level and stay informed about the latest industry developments.
The Romanian shipbuilding industry holds an important place within the European industrial landscape, with Romanian-built vessels accounting for approximately 5% of Europe’s total production. In the more than 27 years since the revolution, Romanian shipyards have developed strong partnerships with European shipowners and shipyards, becoming a primary destination for shipbuilding outsourcing. Moreover, Romania’s highly skilled workforce—comprising both vocational and higher education graduates—has become an important resource for many foreign companies. This workforce migration, however, has negatively impacted the ability of Romanian companies to remain competitive.
The annual turnover of Romanian shipyards is approximately EUR 650 million, a figure that has declined due to the global economic crisis, which has significantly affected the maritime sector. This turnover represents around 5% of Romania’s GDP. Approximately 10,000 people work directly in Romania’s shipyards, with an additional 8,000 employees working for subcontractors operating on shipyard platforms.
As a result of the performance and success of Romanian shipyards, several companies—both Romanian and foreign—have been established to provide services and supply equipment not only for ships built in Romania but also for international projects.
The taxes and duties paid by Romanian shipyards and the supporting horizontal industry also make a significant contribution to the national budget. The maritime sector represents regional and local development hubs, being among the main employers in several areas of Romania.
ANCONAV brings together both companies operating in shipbuilding—such as shipyards, design firms, equipment manufacturers, and specialized distributors—and raw material suppliers with a significant impact on the national economy, such as Mittal Galați and Ductil Buzău. Shipbuilding represents a significant share of turnover for these producers, so the success of Romanian companies in this field has a positive impact on the country’s macroeconomic indicators.
The Association is a member of SEA Europe (the European Shipbuilding and Maritime Equipment Association) and actively participates in multiple working groups that are of strategic importance to Romania’s maritime industry.
Only together with ANCONAV can we build a true shipbuilding development cluster that will ensure the sustainability of the Romanian industry!