STX Finland shipyard to be sold

Posted on 7 August, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Jerry Limone

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft and the Finnish government have agreed to acquire STX Finland from South Korea-based STX Corp.

Meyer Werft will buy a 70% stake, the Finnish government 30%. The acquisition is subject to clearance by antitrust authorities and banks.

STX Finland has a shipyard in Turku; a shipyard in Rauma was sold to the Finnish town earlier this year. The plan is to rename the company Meyer Turku Shipyard.

The Turku yard built the Mein Schiff 3, a TUI Cruises ship that entered service in June. STX Finland is currently constructing the Mein Schiff 4, and TUI Cruises this week reached a deal for two more ships of the same class to be constructed at the Turku yard.

STX also has built many ships for the North American market, including Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

Meyer Werft’s Papenburg yard built Celebrity’s Solstice-class and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway-class ships. The yard is constructing Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus and Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class vessels.

Carnival sues Alabama shipyard where Triumph was towed

Posted on 20 June, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival sues Alabama shipyard where Triumph was towed

By Tom Stieghorst

Carnival Corp. has filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the shipyard in Mobile, Ala., where the Carnival Triumph was towed in February after its engine fire.

The suit says deteriorated and inadequate mooring bollards failed during a rainstorm on April 3, allowing Triumph to break free of the pier and damage other vessels and structures. Triumph itself also sustained “significant” damage, the suit says.

The suit seeks at least $12.6 million in damages from BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Alabama Property Holdings LLC. Attorneys for BAE Systems have not yet filed a response.

Also named as a defendant in the suit is Bernadette Johnson, wife of John “Buster” Johnson, a worker who drowned when the Triumph broke free. She had sued Carnival on May 29, the suit says.

In the suit, Carnival seeks a declaration that it is not liable for injuries or damages from the incident.

Carnival said it has claims or expects claims from the Signal Ship Repair shipyard on the Mobile River and from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, whose dredging ship was hit by Carnival Triumph.