DSME in negotiations to buy Romanian shipyard

Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, a major shipbuilder, said Tuesday it has been holding negotiations with Romania over the sale of the European country’s largest shipyard.

Romania’s state-owned company 2 Mai S.A. Mangalia shipyard informed Daewoo Shipbuilding on Jan. 5 of its intention to exercise its preemption rights over the Daewoo shipyard in Mangalia, Daewoo Shipbuilding said.

The Mangalia shipyard is a joint venture between Daewoo Shipbuilding and 2 Mai Mangalia, which hold 51-percent and 49-percent stakes, respectively.

Daewoo Shipbuilding said its negotiations with 2 Mai Mangalia shipyard are under way to close the deal. The company did not provide details.

Former Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose said his country needs the Mangalia shipyard in the Black Sea coast.

“We have tried, and it seems we will succeed, to get back 51 percent of Daewoo’s shares in the shipyard, and we want to make use of the sale preemption right,” Tudose said in comments posted on the website of the Romania Journal.

“Maybe we will build a frigate for the army, as well as provide maintenance. Maybe we build some ships there. It’s not possible for a country with access to the Danube and the sea to lack a shipyard,” Tudose also said according to Romania Insider, an English-language news website.

Romania’s move came two months after Damen Shipyards Group entered into a share purchase agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding for the acquisition of its 51 percent stake in the Mangalia shipyard.

YONHAP