European shipbuilders resuming operations

Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri closed its facilities on 16 March and reopened them on 20 April. It is using a gradual approach to getting back to work, comprising reduced levels of staff and staggered shift schedules. Normal production levels are anticipated by late May or early June.

The company told The Maritime Executive: “We gradually re-started production in all our yards in Italy,” said a spokesperson for Fincantieri. “This process will take place spanned over several weeks in order to ensure safety to all our workers.”

Chantiers de l’Atlantique

France-based Chantiers de l’Atlantique is also due to resume limited work on 27 April. Work has been suspended at the company, located in Saint-Nazaire, since mid March and is now expected to restart with reduced staffing in some of the yard’s fabrication shops, including the cabin manufacturing facility, and onboard ships. Chantiers expects all production activities will resume operating on 11 May 11.

Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia has started some activities at some yards while cleaning efforts are underway at other facilities.

German shipbuilding company MV Werften, with operations in Wismar, Rostock, and Stralsund, suspended operations in late March and is now targeted early May to resume operations if supply chains are again functioning.

By Rebecca Jeffrey