The bank account of the Uljanik shipyard was blocked on Tuesday morning, the Financial Agency (FINA) said. The news comes after contracts on the construction of four vessels by the Uljanik Group were cancelled by clients and after anti-graft police started an investigation into the shipyard's business dealings, both on Monday.
One of the shipyard’s client, Norway’s Siem Shipping, announced on Monday the terminated of their contracts with Uljanik for four car carrier ships, because the shipyard proved to be unable to deliver the vessels on time. Construction work on the vessels had not begun.
After receiving their July wages, workers of the Uljanik Group, which includes Rijeka’s 3. Maj shipyard and Pula’s Uljanik, on Monday ended their strike that started on August 22 over unpaid wages. The money for the July wages – around 50 million kuna – was secured by the government, which did so by increasing its state guarantee for previous loans issued to Uljanik in 2015 and 2016.
VEZANE VIJESTI
However, even after returning to work, there was little for workers to do at 3. Maj on Monday, as the shipyard lacks raw materials needed to continue shipbuilding projects.
Meanwhile, anti-corruption police Uskok confirmed on Monday that they were conducting preliminary investigations at the Uljanik Group.
Uljanik’s business account had also been blocked last Thursday, but was unblocked the same day, while the account of 3. Maj still remains blocked.
In late July Uljanik Group, which owns both Uljanik and 3. Maj shipyards, said it ended the first six months of 2018 with a 364.8 million kuna loss, or triple from the same period last year when the company posted a 113.3 million kuna loss.
The company’s total revenue was 838.2 million kuna in the first half of 2018, or 44 percent down from the same period in 2017.
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