Investors start talks with struggling shipyards
Talks have begun between unnamed investors and the historic German shipyards FSG Nobiskrug, which insolvency administrators say could ultimately save the company.
Insolvency proceedings are due to begin on February 1, and to save jobs the staff will be transferred to a transfer company and paid 80% of their salaries until a final solution can be found, Christoph Morgen, of administrators Schellenberg Kirchberg, said.
He said the shipyards, one at Rendsburg and one at Flensburg, had received ‘several offers from potential investors’, who are industry-related firms in Germany and not financial investors.
“Negotiations with interested parties are well advanced. This applies equally to the Rendsburg and Flensburg sites,” said Hendrik Gittermann, also an administrator, who admitted any immediate resumption of production was ‘unrealistic’ because of inspections and insurance reasons.
Work on a 210m RoRo vessel are, however, due to begin at the Flensburg site, the company said.
“The aim is to enable as many people as possible to continue to work at the shipyards as soon as possible, as soon as suitable solutions are found,” said Dr. Morgen. “However, the decision on this investor solution must be made by the opening of the insolvency proceedings.”
Talks have also begun with the state government of Schleswig-Holstein about possible interim financing, the administrators said.
