GERMAN NAVAL YARDS Kiel specialises in the design and construction of highly-integrated naval vessels. These include frigates, corvettes and offshore patrol vessels. Our shipyards in Kiel are the direct successor to the surface vessel shipbuilding sector of HDW (Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH). Today the Kiel shipyard is part of the international shipyard group PRIVINVEST and thus continues the long shipbuilding tradition on the Kiel Fjord.