Early Volkswerft sale tipped again

Authorities in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV), the main creditor of the yard, are due to meet on 21 January to decide on offers made after “some open issues” are clarified. Other creditors are also considering details passed from receiver Berthold Brinkmann.

MV spokesman Andreas Timm said “not only is the price decisive: there must also be a convincing concept for the future” of the yard, insolvent since 2012. Mr Brinkmann was quoted as saying he is optimistic yard and ships can be sold by the start of February.

Two offers for the yard are reported on the table and two for the pair of 169.5m, 1600 lane metre ro-pax newbuilds cancelled by Scandlines in 2012 because they were too heavy.

One yard bid is from Germany’s Russian-owned Nordic Yards, which is reported offering €3 million and a pledge of millions more in investment. It has however given no employment guarantees. The other, undetailed, offer is from energy concern New Global Wind, which wants to create an industrial estate around the yard, a concept favoured by local officials concerned about employment.

Reports indicated the price offered for the two cancelled ships, originally priced at €184 million, will be important for any deal. It is understood that a Scandlines offer of €25 million has been upped to about €30 million and that Nordic has made a similar offer. It is however not clear if Nordic would still want the ships if it does not get the yard.

Officials said the ships will need conversion for their original Baltic service at a cost of at least €100 million – Scandlines says much more. German authorities want that work done in a German yard, perhaps Volkswerft.

Meanwhile Volkswerft’s latest and possibly last newbuilding Ark Dania has left the giant building hall for fitting out and delivery later this year. She is the second of two 195m special ro-ro ships for DFDS. The first ship Ark Germania is for delivery soon.