EAC Shipyard in Nakskov

Facts

Full steam ahead for 70 years

By Anna-Elisabeth Jensen, Souschef, arkæolog (6 stories)

Nakskov's shipyard was founded in 1916 by the East Asiatic Company and fellow townsman Hans Niels Andersen. A total of 2,200 employees celebrated its 50th jubilee in 1966. In the 1970s, competition began to intensify and in 1976 the shipyard workers agreed to a forego wage increases for four years. Even so, sadly, 800 of the 1,900 employees were laid off in 1978. When the elements for the Farø bridge and a ferry for the Aarhus-Kalundborg route were finished in 1986, the shipyard closed down its production. Today, it has been partly demolished but some buildings are still used by Vestas to produce wind turbines.

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Nakskov's largest workplace

Story written by Anna-Elisabeth Jensen

Time / Periode 1916 1986

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Until 1916, Nakskov was a normal harbour market town that was evolving into an industrial town. When Hans Niels Andersen built a shipyard for his international business, East Asiatic Company, it brought 50 years of development in its wake. The workforce immigrated from war-torn Germany. And soon the town needed new housing and shops. This created even more jobs in the town. Generations replaced each other at the shipyard. Then after World War II, new ships were needed to replace those sunk during the war. Restaurants and nightlife livened up. The town built an education centre, sports hall and theatre. And a new industrial estate was built. But the town's development was closely linked to the shipyard. With all its eggs in one basket, the town was shattered when the shipyard had to close down in the 1980s.