On the 5th of April, 1877, Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss came together to establish Blohm & Voss as a partnership firm. They set up the shipbuilding facilities on Kuhwerder Island, close to the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Spanning an area of 15,000 square meters, the yard included 250 meters of shoreline and was equipped with three slips for constructing vessels, two of which could accommodate ships up to 100 meters long.
Branding EvolutionThe emblem of Blohm & Voss is characterized by a minimalist design: a dark blue rectangular block with smoothed edges, inscribed with the white text "Blohm+Voss". Historically, up until 1955, the company's name featured an ampersand symbol between the founders' names.
Post-War Recovery and ExpansionDespite the significant devastation it suffered following World War II, Blohm & Voss managed not just to recover but to flourish over the next 125 years, continuing its legacy in shipbuilding and heavy machinery production. The shipyard has notably branched into the construction of war vessels for the German Navy and for international clients under the MEKO program, in addition to developing oil drilling platforms and a variety of commercial ships.
Corporate IntegrationIn the larger landscape of maritime engineering and ship construction, Blohm & Voss operates as a critical component. Alongside the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel and Nordseewerke in Emden, it functions as a crucial subsidiary under the umbrella of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, contributing to the conglomerate's expansive offerings in naval and commercial shipbuilding.
