ZAGREB, December 28, 2018 – Unionists expect to receive a final answer to the question as to whether the government wants Croatian shipbuilding industry or not at Friday’s meeting at the Economy Ministry on the future of the Uljanik and 3. Maj docks, the president of the SSSH union federation said ahead of the meeting.
“Today we expect both Minister Horvat and the government to finally decide if they want Croatia’s shipbuilding or not,” Mladen Novosel said.
Uljanik and 3. Maj are the backbone of Croatia’s shipbuilding and industry, he said, adding that he did not expect the two docks to continue operating as they had until now, but that he was confident they could function under a new model.
“They can definitely function… on the strategic partnership model, the majority owner model, by building ships that are competitive both on the global and the European market.”
Commenting on possible bankruptcy proceedings in 3. Maj, Novosel said the Commercial Court in Rijeka had three months to decide whether to launch them. “The next 30 days are the final deadline for the government to do its best and say that it has found a strategic partner or that there’s no strategic partner.”
Another unionist, Sinisa Košić, too said the court would decide whether 3. Maj would undergo bankruptcy proceedings. He hopes it will not happen, but if it does, he is confident shipbuilding can resume on the dock’s premises.
More news on the Croatian shipbuilding industry can be found in our Business section.
