News

| 2009 | 2010 | jan | feb | mar | apr | may | jun | jul | aug | sep | oct | nov | dec |

Good year at Viktor Lenac

January 18, 2010 - Despite the global financial crisis and weaker demand for ship repairs, Viktor Lenac shipyard finished 2009 with only slightly lower revenue than 2008, which was considered as an exceptionally good one. During 2009 Viktor Lenac successfully completed 60 ship repairs for its steady clients mainly from the Italian, German and local market including tankers, container ships, bulk carriers, LPG carriers and reefer ships with particular emphasis on 3 Aframax tankers for the shipyard's major shareholder Tankerska Plovidba Co.

The biggest repair project was the refurbishment of the 2003-built passenger/car ferry Athara owned by Tirrenia di Navigazione, which suffered fire-damage in the garage area.  The repair comprised of damaged steel renewals, renewal of the piping and cables in the burned spaces and painting.

Another major project was the conversion of the 1974-built stern trawler Saga Sea owned by Aker BioMarine ASA. The conversion included installation of the swing-up bow thruster and bow blister, modification of the bilge system and marine Diesel oil system. Still at berth in the shipyard is Atlantic Navigator also owned by this Norwegian client. This extensive project, which involved lengthening the trawler by 25 m and converting from a stern trawler into a krill fishing vessel, begun in 2007, was put on hold by the owner due to market conditions.

Viktor Lenac will particularly remember 2009 for entering into a successful cooperation with the Italian Saipem, one of the world’s top oilfield services companies. In August Saipem entrusted Viktor Lenac with repair of its semi-submersible drilling rig Scarabeo 4. With the first platform of such type ever repaired in the shipyard, Viktor Lenac has proved that it has both knowledge and expertise to execute demanding jobs of this kind with application of the highest HSE standards. In a short period of 88 days was renewed about 200 tons of steel, including 60 tons of steel outfitting, and 60 tons of pipes. The complete renewal of sanitary pipelines in accommodations, in total length of 1.5 kilometre, and 350 bar HP mud line was carried out. More than 200 people worked on board the rig every day at 40 meters above sea level. This repair project that was completed within the deadline and at full satisfaction of Saipem particularly in terms of quality of workmanship signified the return of the shipyard to the offshore platform repair market.

Also in 2009 Viktor Lenac completed construction of the Anamarija A process module and Izabela Nord jacket and process module for EDINA and INAGIP as part of the offshore project that started in 1997 and involves construction of 11 gas platforms.

In 2009 the shipyard’s ship repair capacity was significantly increased with the Floating Dock No11 that was put into full operation after undergoing a substantial refurbishment. The dock passed the test with the two Aframax tankers successfully repaired in the first half of the year for Tankerska plovidba Co. It was one of the most important events in the way of development. With this dock that can receive Suezmax ships, Viktor Lenac has entered into a new market of large ships and is strengthening its position as one of the leading ship repair and conversion yards in the Mediterranean. 


In 2009 Tankerska plovidba Co., Croatia’s largest shipping company, became the major shareholder and continues with development and modernization of the shipyard to adapt to hard market conditions and grow its market share. During the last year alone the shipyard invested about 2.5 million euro in technological and production facilities.