Norwegian shipyards in trouble
The Norwegian shipbuilding industry in 2009 got new orders worth 1.3 billion NOK. That is down more than 90 percent from 2008. Several yards now eye survival in the quickly expanding offshore wind power industry.
The trend in Norway is the same as worldwide – shipyards are experiencing a downturn which threatens to wipe out major parts of the industry. In Norway, the number of new orders was in 2009 down 90 percent compared with 2008. The yards now survive only thanks to the record-high orders from 2008.
The serious problems will start this year and in 2011, when there former orders run out. Only few of the 25 Norwegian shipyards have orders into 2011, E24.no reports. Then, thousands of jobs are in jeopardy.
With a petroleum sector in decline, the Norwegian shipbuilding industry will have to restructure if the yards are to survive. A debate has already been started. Both the government and the industry itself sees the need for urgent measures.
Several public institutions believe that the growing wind power industry will be a key to overcome the crisis. Among them is the GIEK institute. The governmental agency responsible for furnishing guarantees and insurance of export credits has already handed over recommendations to Minister of Industry Trond Giske.
GIEK representative Wenche Nistad says to DN.no that offshore installations like windparks would be of interest for the sector for many years ahead. The government-funded institute now requests permission for an extended access to offer finance to wind power projects.
Meanwhile, the situation in neighboring Russia appears quite different. There, several yards in Murmansk Oblast are starting to prepare for major new orders in connection with the development of the Shtokman field. As BarentsObserver reported, the country in the years to come plans to construct a big number new vessels, as well as shipyards.
