Yard decision postponed as talks resume

Political leaders in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV), the yard’s biggest creditor, met on 20 January. They had been expected to select one of two bids for the Stralsund yard

and

end the uncertainty surrounding it

and

its workforce since late 2012.

However, after the meeting however state Economics Minister Harry Glawe said talks had been postponed because “new questions have arisen, which now have to be answered”. He gave no details but investment

and

job security are believed most under scrutiny in the offers of Hamburg-based wind energy company New Global Wind

and

Russian-owned Nordic Yards in Wismar

and

Warnemuende.

Mecklenburg Vorpommern state premier Erwin Sellering said after the 20 January meeting that the state government would not be put under time pressure. It wanted to see viable financial concepts from the two interested parties

and

“a longer-term viable solution for the location” before any decision is made. He added however that the receivers had to decide on a buyer by May at the latest.

New Global Wind is reported to have offered to invest €80 million in creating a wind turbine production centre which could potentially create many jobs. Nordic Yards has also offered millions in investment but has reportedly given no guarantees about future employment.

Talks with Nordic

and

New Global Wind have meanwhile resumed. Also back on hold

and

reportedly dependent on who buys the yard, is a decision on what will happen to the two largely-completed 169.5m ro-pax newbuildings

Berlin

and

Copenhagen which were cancelled by Sc

and

lines after insolvency. Sc

and

lines

and

Nordic are both hoping to buy them.