Naslov
The Role of Maritime Passenger Shipping in the Restructuring of Shipbuilding Industry and Economic Growth of the Republic of Croatia

Autori
Vidučić, Vinko

Izvornik
SEER. South-East Europe review for labour and social affairs (1435-2869) (2004), 4; 55-68

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, pregledni rad, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Restructuring; Shipbuilding Industry and Economic Growth
(Restructuring; Shipbuilding Industry; Economic Growth)

Sažetak
The Croatian shipbuilding industry is undergoing technological reconstruction. National shipbuilding will not be abandoned, as it is the strategic industry of Croatia. The Government has undertaken to define the tasks of the management boards in all the Croatian shipyards and the tasks of the Government itself. The goal is an urgent restructuring of the Croatian shipyards and their reorganisation in terms of profitable operation as well as in terms of the larger share of domestic equipment in-built in ships. This was stated by Mr Branko Vukelić, the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship at the press conference held in Split on 3 February 2004. One of the largest Croatian shipyards where the state is the major owner, Brodosplit from Split is subject to the projects of technological reconstruction and restructuring i.e. separation of technological units that are not directly related to shipbuilding. The spin-off firms could easily find new customers and be more profitable. This restructuring started on 1 January 2004 when the first spin-off enterprise Brodosplit-TDM started its operation. This company builds engines for the ships built in Brodosplit. In spite of being an autonomous company TDM will participate in shipbuilding by 10 to 15%, and thus will be one of the most important partners of Brodosplit. The Government is investing considerable funds that should be paid back in 7 to 9 years, which is quite favourable in terms of project profitability. The final goal of the Government is to shorten the shipbuilding period. During 1999 and 2000 the Government invested 17 million kunas in the first stage of technological reconstruction, while in 2004 it will invest 20 million in the second stage. This stage involves purchase of technological equipment such as automotive lines for profile cutting, micro-panel lines, 90-ton transporter, 25-ton dock crane, submarine cutting equipment. The investment will ensure higher productivity and competitiveness especially in relation to the Far-East shipyards. . This restructuring model has been already applied in the EU aiming to reorganise operation in a number of smaller technological units allowing them to be better organised, profitably engaged and better controlled. The management of such companies are responsible directly to the owner for their financial performance. Organised in this way they will also be allowed to negotiate contracts beyond the scope of the shipbuilding market. As the Government plans to privatise the entire shipbuilding industry, it will be easier to achieve that with smaller firms. The capacity of the Croatian Shipbuilding industry will be fully engaged in the next 2 to 4 years mainly for the foreign customers. The number of workers will not be reduced, as blue-collar workers are getting scarce in all the shipyards. They have ample possibility to work overtime and earn good wages. The surplus of administrative workers was eliminated by early retirement programmes or by retraining programmes.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija

POVEZANOST RADA