Last week was a busy one in the world of shipyard real estate. Not only was Nobiskrug, the German megayacht builder behind famous yachts such as Triple Seven, revealed to be under new ownership, but also Global Ship Systems, the beleaguered American refit and repair facility, found the 23 acres it’s been occupying put on the selling block.
Nobiskrug, which has been part of the fold at ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for a few years–along with Blohm + Voss and Hellenic Shipyards–was sold to a Guernsey-based investment group called Eagle River Capital. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems declined to reveal the purchase price, though it did state that the Nobiskrug acquisition was retroactive to October 1 of last year. There’s also no word on whether other shipyard sales will follow; ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has been undergoing a restructuring, which will eventually see it split into a military sector and a civil sector, according to published reports.
As for Nobiskrug’s new owner, not much is known about Eagle River Capital. It’s part of a conglomerate focusing on ship components, engineering services, and facility management. German newspapers have reported that the 400 Nobiskrug employees might receive job guarantees for up to five years, though no official word has been released.
The Global Ship Systems saga, which I’ve documented in recent months, looks anything but promising for the team that had hoped to reopen its doors along the Savannah River in Georgia. KPMG Corporate Finance and Savannah-based real-estate broker Melaver Mouchet have been appointed to sell the property. Thirteen buildings that include a covered wet slip, a graving dock, a maintenance shop, a finishing building, and a warehouse are up for grabs. Letters of intent are due by May 15.
Stay tuned.
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