Germany to build multibillion-euro naval base in Emden to expand North Sea operations

Letter of intent signed in Emden

German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius and Lower Saxony Minister President Olaf Lies signed a letter of intent on Monday, 5 October 2026, to build a naval base in the seaport city of Emden. The announcement took place at the Knock pumping station on the Rysumer Nacken, situated at the mouth of the Ems River. Vice Admiral Wilhelm Tobias Abry, the inspector of the German Navy, and Horst Jahnke, the first city councillor of Emden, attended the event alongside the state and federal officials. The initiative requires a multibillion-euro investment and targets completion by the beginning of the 2030s. The decision restores an official naval presence to the East Frisian location after an absence of nearly 30 years.

Planned infrastructure and berthing capacity

The designated naval base will encompass 750 hectares of land and water area, accommodating naval operations and support services. The operational requirement includes berths for seven frigates, ten minesweepers, and ten tugboats. Long-term staffing plans project the creation of up to 2,000 service posts for military personnel and civilian workers. The German Navy currently numbers around 16,000 people, which Pistorius noted is the smallest force in Bundeswehr history despite expanded operational tasks across international waters.

Strategic positioning in the North Sea

Until this decision, Wilhelmshaven, home to the Heppenser Groden naval base, stood as Germany's only naval port on the North Sea coast. The Wilhelmshaven facility serves as the headquarters of Operational Flotilla 2, housing frigates, replenishment oilers, supply vessels, a naval arsenal, and a logistics centre. Defence officials evaluated alternative coastal sites, including Bremerhaven, before selecting Emden because of its land availability and North Atlantic access. The location provides routes to secure waters between Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom against Russian submarine operations, while remaining situated outside the impact perimeter of Russian medium-range missiles.

That makes us harder to calculate for in an emergency and increases our operational options. That is what ultimately matters.

Logistics network and port industry response

The Emden project complements other military logistics upgrades along Germany's northern coast. Over the weekend preceding the Emden announcement, the federal government, the state of Bremen, and BLG Logistics agreed to establish a military logistics centre named Deployment Hub Bremerhaven 31. Federal funding for the Bremerhaven site involves 1.35 billion euros to stage vehicles, fuel, equipment, and transit units for allied forces. Florian Keisinger, chief executive of the Central Association of German Seaport Operators, endorsed the decisions for Emden and Bremerhaven as steps to reinforce German ports within NATO.

The new naval port in Emden is therefore far more than an important location decision. It is an investment in the security of our country and our ability to act within NATO.