At a meeting with the Polish Team for Co-ordination of Privatisation of Shipyards, representatives of the Norwegian investor said the shipyard in Szczecin had all necessary resources for the production of highly specialised vessels to service oil rigs. The Norwegians said that soon a letter of intent regarding the transaction should be expected and they expressed their interest in a prompt meeting with the European Commission (EC) to discuss the purchase.
By June 26, the Polish government has to present before the EC a plan for the restructuring of Gdansk Shipyard and privatisation of the shipyards in Gdynia and Szczecin. Should they fail to do so, each shipyard may lose 500 million euros received in state aid since Poland’s accession to the EU in May 2004.