2024-04-07 07:55:27
Many shipyards are probably still suffering from the consequences of the corona pandemic. The Meyer Werft in Emsland is apparently worried about refinancing a loan worth millions.
The financial situation of the Emsland cruise ship specialist Meyer Werft was the topic of the economic committee of the Lower Saxony state parliament on Friday. The content was confidential, said a spokesman for State Economics Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) in Hanover.
“Wirtschaftswoche” had previously reported that the traditional company from Papenburg with additional locations in Rostock and Turku, Finland, would have to repay a loan of 550 million euros in November 2024. According to information from the newspaper, refinancing has not yet been secured. According to the report, the high level of debt of the company, which achieved sales of 2.1 billion euros in 2022, is considered problematic.
The cruise industry is feeling the consequences of the corona pandemic
A spokesman for the shipyard said the company does not comment on figures. However, the company is in talks with the federal government and the states of Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Despite the order situation now being good again, the consequences of the corona crisis are still being felt in the cruise industry. The competing shipyards in Italy and France are also in this situation, but unlike the Meyer Werft, these companies are 100 percent supported by the state.
Just before Easter, Meyer Werft announced a new order from the shipping company Carnival Cruise Line. However, financing for the order is still pending. Another new order for Carnival Cruise Line was announced in February.
The order book of the traditional Emsland company now includes six cruise ships, a research ship and the steel construction for four offshore converter platforms. The company employs around 3,000 shipyard employees and secures orders for numerous suppliers and service providers in the region.