The Shipyards’ Sink or Swim: A Comedy of Errors in Schleswig-Holstein
Ah, Schleswig-Holstein! Known for its charming countryside, delightful lakes, and now, the tangled drama of its beleaguered shipyards! The waters may look calm on the surface, but beneath? Oh boy, we’ve got a tidal wave of issues brewing, and it’s not just the shipyards preparing to capsize!
In a rather glorious display of “not my circus, not my monkeys,” Economics Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen has made it crystal clear: the state is steering clear of any financial lifebuoys for the troubled shipyards FSG in Flensburg and Nobiskrug in Rendsburg. “The state government does not see this as a viable solution,” he declares, sounding like a parent firmly saying no to a child’s request for just one more cookie before bed. Spoiler alert: the cookie is a public loan, and bedtime is bankruptcy!
Madsen points out the obvious fact that they can’t even throw public money at the problem—imagine trying to fund a sinking ship with a pocketful of loose change, and you’ll grasp how ridiculous that would be! “We as a country cannot force the owner to offer his shipyards for sale,” he continues, channeling a vibe somewhere between a disappointed teacher and a sensible banker seeing one too many bad loans.
But don’t fret, dear reader! The government is poised to act like a supportive friend at a karaoke bar, eagerly ready to step in “once Lars Windhorst finally retires.” Retirement plans? It sounds like a game of dodgeball where Lars is the last kid left standing, and everyone’s just waiting for him to sit down so the fun can begin.
Now, let’s spice things up a bit! If we hit a stormy patch and those shipyards actually capsize—bankruptcy knocking at the door, and no knight in shining armor (also known as a private investor) in sight—then we’ll just have to “reassess.” The government’s response? “No way are we putting taxpayers on the hook for that!” Because nothing says ‘good governance’ like saying your taxpayers should keep their wallets firmly shut.
Of course, like a good soap opera, there’s drama elsewhere! We’ve seen mass layoffs of staff, 500 out of 530 workers let go! It’s like they’ve been on a reality show titled “Survivor: Shipyard Edition,” where just not enough people made the cut for a sequel. Naturally, this has spurred Serpil Midyatli, the SPD parliamentary group leader, to strut onto the scene, waving her arms like a conductor at a symphony orchestra, calling for immediate state intervention. “We must save those shipyards!” she proclaims, but hey, we all know this tune well—it’s the classic reelection strategy.
And you thought you were having a rough week! Meanwhile, the shipyards themselves, under Windhorst’s Tennor Group, have faced problems galore—salaries turned tardy, new orders as scarce as a decent wifi signal on a camping trip. It’s unclear who’s steering this ship, but rest assured, it’s quite evident that the captain is currently on a long coffee break!
Oh, Schleswig-Holstein, your shipyards may be floundering, but your politics? Now that’s a riveting spectacle! Let’s hope they find a new captain soon, or this sorry saga might end with everyone enjoying a “sinking feeling” while dramatic music plays in the background. Time to pop the popcorn and watch a good old-fashioned financial fiasco unfold!
So, as we sit back and observe how this maritime misadventure plays out, one thing’s for sure: if they ever need an emergency scriptwriter for this drama, they’ll know where to find me!
Employee released. Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa
Schleswig-Holstein’s Economics Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU) has clearly spoken out against the state’s involvement in the distressed shipyards FSG in Flensburg and Nobiskrug in Rendsburg. “The state government does not see this as a viable solution and is not considering such a step,” he said. “Apart from the fact that we are not even allowed to grant public loans to the companies in their current economic situation, we as a country cannot force the owner to offer his shipyards for sale.”
All the country can do at the moment is try to mediate. “We are ready to provide any support when Lars Windhorst finally retires, thereby allowing interested investors to get involved and the shipyards to have a fresh start,” said Madsen.
“If the shipyard group goes bankrupt in the coming months and, contrary to expectations, no private investor is found for the two locations, the situation would have to be reassessed.” From his point of view, it is clear that Schleswig-Holstein’s taxpayers should not be held liable. From the minister’s point of view, a comparison with the federal government’s entry into the Papenburg Meyerwerft is misguided because the order books there are full. The FSG, on the other hand, only has a single order in progress.
On Monday it was announced that 500 of the remaining 530 shipyard workers had been laid off. The SPD parliamentary group leader in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament, Serpil Midyatli, then called for the state to get involved. Green MEP Rasmus Andresen made similar comments in an open letter to Prime Minister Daniel Günter (CDU) and Madsen.
The two shipyards belong to Windhorst’s Tennor Group. FSG and Nobiskrug in Rendsburg have been having problems for months; Salaries were paid late and new orders were in short supply. Windhorst was also personally criticized for his behavior and lack of communication.
