Specialised shipbuilding skills

The Tehnomont Group is one of the major shipbuilding companies in Croatia. It is integrating the wide range of its activities to develop its potential and adjust to economic changes in Europe.

The Tehnomont Group consists of the 100 year old Tehnomont Shipyard Pula Ltd and Tehnomont BMN Ltd. Apart from shipbuilding, ship repairing and the production of solar equipment the Group also serves the metal industry, as well as the tourism industry in Marina Veruda.

The shipyard, located in Pula Bay, started with the production of smaller size wooden ships; today, it is a modern company with an open production area of 32,000m2 and a covered production area of 3000m2, consisting of fully equipped workshops and all the infrastructure necessary for smooth operations. Two slipways for the large sized ships (up to L 50m, W 18m, Wt 600t) are also part of the production facilities.

The company constructs a wide range of vessels for various purposes such as patrol boats, cruise ships and passenger boats, fishing and fire-fighting boats etc. It also has an overhaul and repair department which is engaged in maintenance and reconstruction of ships made of various materials. In addition, Tehnomont Shipyard produces its own marine equipment such as stairs, cradles, dry docks and platforms, made of steel. The production of offshore steel-hulled ships and other special-purpose vessels still represents the shipyard’s core businesses. Aluminium solutions

When the prices of fuel kept on rising dramatically in the last couple of decades, Tehnomont Shipyard Pula began to set its sights on producing more sophisticated ships made out of aluminium which due to their light weight ultimately consume less fuel. Another reason for considering aluminium solutions was a response to the competition from the Far East whose shipbuilding industry has conquered international markets with its steel vessels. Currently the company is focused on building vessels up to 80m in length.

Although European customers have not shown much interest in aluminium ships in the past, it looks as if this material is slowly acquiring an important place in the European shipbuilding industry as a result of increasing demand for larger and faster ships.

Tehnomont’s first step in aluminium shipbuilding technology was getting its workers trained in Germany and Italy. Today the company successfully implements these technologies in delivering its own marine vessels and passenger ships. The latest example from 2012, a new 37m long passenger catamaran vessel completely made of aluminium alloy, shows that Tehnomont Shipyard meets one of its pivotal business strategies – bringing aluminium shipbuilding to the Mediterranean. Long-lasting collaboration

Another profit centre within Tehnomont is its operations in other countries. More than 300 of its skilled workers are sent to Germany and Italy to help in constructing particular ship sections, fitting ship pipes and engaging in other marine construction work. Tehnomont owns branch offices in these shipyards. Experience gained during 30 years of such collaboration enables the workers to return armed with new knowledge which is then implemented in their own company. HDV Kiel, P. Lundenau Kiel, Fincantieri Monfalcone and Fincantieri Ancona are just some of the shipyards where Tehnomont’s experts in steel and pipe manufacturing perform outfitting and learn new technologies.

When it comes to assembling aluminium structures on various ships and vessels, Tehnomont has worked on numerous cruise ships in Italy and Germany. It is particularly proud of its contribution to the 165m long yacht for the Kingdom of Oman, delivered by the Bremen-based shipyard Lurssen. The company has also built large aluminium funnels for Aida and Disney ships.

Eggs in different baskets

Apart from the shipbuilding industry, Tehnomont Group benefits from two other activities. It develops and produces solar panels

for water heating and has the largest collector arrays built in one place in Croatia (at the Zaton holiday resort near Zadar) with 1036 pieces installed (2072m2) for supplying 4500 guests. This project has been upgraded through the years. In fact, Croatia was, together with the USA, one of the pioneers in the production of solar systems.

Tehnomont BMN Ltd, which mainly deals with management of the whole Group, also runs Marina Veruda, a fully equipped sea port located on the southern part of the Istrian peninsula. The Marina operates a charter fleet, 630 berths in the water and 300 berths on shore. Additionally, it offers help in repairing and maintaining vessels in trouble and holds authorisation for servicing motors from well-known engine makers such as Honda, Yamaha etc. All activities are carried out in compliance with environmental laws.

Moving upscale

The leadership of the Group is aware that the Croatian market is too small to keep ship sales going. Hence, there is a constant need to expand markets internationally. Tehnomont Group is present not only on the European markets, but in the Middle East as well. It has been engaged in the modernisation of the Moroccan fishing fleet, as well as in supplying rescue and pilot boats.

To offer high quality products, Tehnomont collaborates with renowned project designers such as Macduff Ship Design, Bruce Roberts, Simtec Marine d.o.o. Camarc Design. Major investments are being carried out especially in the facilities for constructing aluminium equipment for new vessels. For that purpose Shipyard Pula has built a new movable and extendable workshop hall that can reach 100m in length. The company is continuing to use its years of experience and collaboration to meet new benchmarks and to remain an independent shipbuilder. n

Visit: www.tehnomont.hr