SHIP & BOATBUILDING
HOPES FADE FOR PELLA SIETAS SHIPYARD SURVIVAL Receivers were still seeking new investors for insolvent Hamburg Shipyard Pella Sietas late October but there appears little chance that Germany’s oldest shipyard will survive in its current form Pella Sietas announced insolvency in July citing Covid and liquidity bottlenecks but with hopes new investors could be found. However about 200 employees were let go in September and at last word just a skeleton work force remained. Receiver Achim Ahrendt said there had been talks with more than 150 potential investors since mid August and that some offers for the Elbe facility – Germany’s oldest shipyard dating back to 1635 – had been made. However Russia’s Pella Shipyard in St Petersburg, which owns Pella Sietas, was not willing to invest more money in the yard, Ahrendt said. He added that “none of the investors could, or was prepared to to take over existing (ship) contracts under the conditions already agreed to”. The search would however continue Ahrendt said.
None of the investors could, or was prepared to take over existing (ship) contracts under the conditions already agreed to
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The ships referred to include the €100 million, 119.8 x 27.5m ice-breaker ordered by owners Pella Shipyard for delivery in 2023 and described as the biggest of its kind ever ordered in Germany. They also include the 133m x 23m trailing suction hopper dredge Osteriff for Germany’s governmental Waterways and Shipping Agency (WSV). Originally priced at €95 million and for delivery in 2018 that impressive newbuild was at last word berthed at the giant Blohm +Voss ( B+V) shipyard in Hamburg after being moved from Pella Sietas in a complex operation delayed for a year
by silt-buildup. Reports have said €80 million has already been spent on its construction. The WSV told Maritime Journal in August that further construction was being co-ordinated by those involved. But no further WSV comment has been received since B+V yard owners Lürssen announced in early October that B+V would no longer build or repair commercial ships. Reports elsewhere said an order with Pella Sietas for a 74.3m double-end island ferry for German operator Reederei Norden-Frisia had already been cancelled. And an order for an LNG fuelled ferryship for southern Germany also appeared stymied. Originally due for delivery in 2020, that still unfinished ship was reported still berthed on the Lake of Constance.
8 Pella Sietas Werft
First green patrol boat
40 | NOVEMBER 2021
8 P.04 Osum is a diesel-electric hybrid vessel designed and built by Vittoria Shipyard
Photo: Vittoria Shipyard
The first green offshore patrol boat for the Italian Guardia di Finanza has been launched. P.04 Osum is a diesel-electric hybrid vessel that has been designed and built by Vittoria Shipyard in Adria, Rovigo for police functions at sea. Constructed in collaboration with Damen Shipyards Group, the vessel features diesel-electric propulsion at patrol speeds up to 9 knots, enabling it to have low emissions and reduced environmental impact. The two main diesel propulsion engines are flanked by reversible electric motors of 270kw each that can act as propulsion engines on patrol or provide electricity for operations.
The vessel is over 60m long, 9.5m wide, has a draft of 3.5m and can reach a maximum speed of more than 26 knots. It has an axe bow or Axe Bow able to guarantee excellent seakeeping even in difficult weather and sea conditions, without having to limit the speed.
Delivery of the vessel is scheduled for 2022. At the end of construction, the unit will obtain the highest class provided by the Italian Naval Register and the Efficient Ship Eedi (Energy Efficiency Design Index) notations, additional class notation dedicated to the energy efficiency of ships, Green Plus and Green Passport Plus linked to environmental impact, all issued by RINA. Vittoria Shipyard specialises in the design and construction of military, paramilitary, work, commercial and transport boats up to 100m in length.
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