Finnish petition to save shipbuilders

The petition calls on the government to safeguard the industry by becoming a shareholder in shipyards. Supporters also want the business community to get involved and help support the sector before it’s too late.

Last month STX Finland’s Turku shipyard lost a lucrative expected contract to build a Royal Caribbean cruise liner to its STX sister shipyard in France.

The Finnish Metalworkers Union announced recently that negotiations will begin with bosses and workers at the Turku and Rauma STX shipyards following the loss of the contract.

The union said that its loss and the company’s losses to date meant that a reduction in costs of 30% was being sought by STX, which they are worried could equate to hundreds of job losses.

STX Finland is currently building a 97,000 tonne ship for TUI Cruises of Germany with delivery expected in 2014. The contract for a second vessel was inked in November 2012 but it has been mooted that financial funding for both projects is still not complete.

Supporters of the petition want to keep maritime expertise in Finland.