In 2004, Smart group of companies launched the development of the concept of shipbuilding sub-holding in strategic partnership with Kherson Shipyard (Khersonskiy Sudostroitelny Zavod). As a result, the shipyard obtained necessary financing and this enabled it to get a sufficient portfolio of production orders.
In November 2007, the Ukrainian antitrust regulator gave the Kherson Shipyard the permission to consolidate control stock of the Chernomorskiy Shipyard (Chernomorskiy Sudostroitelny Zavod). Then, Kherson Shipyard bought 90,95% stock of Chernomorskiy Shipyard.
In 2008 Energees Investments (investment company of Smart Holding) obtained from Antitrust Committee of Ukraine the permission to acquire the controlling interest in Kherson Shipyard (Khersonskiy Sudostroitelny Zavod).
In 2009, in order to gain access to markets abroad, including capital markets, Smart Holding started setting up a separate shipbuilding sub-holding ‘Smart Maritime Group B.V.’. Currently, Smart Maritime Group consolidates shareholdings in Kherson Shipyard and indirectly in Chernomorskiy Shipyard (via Kherson Shipyard).
Kherson Shipyard
Kherson Shipyard is one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises of Ukraine, which was established more than 50 years ago.
The plant deals with ship repairs and ship building. It specializes in tankers with the deadweight up to 30 thousand ton, container and dry cargo ships, and drilling vessels (with drilling depth up to 6500 meters).
After the production slowdown caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union, the enterprise lost most of its customers, decreased its production capacity and was balancing on the edge of bankruptcy for years.
After the arrival of the new management team in 2004, the company managed to stop the drain of highly skilled employees, started modernization of production capacities and developed a plan to transform the shipyard into a full-cycle ship-building facility.
Today Kherson Shipyard is a partner of several well-known Norwegian and Dutch shipyards. Kherson Shipyard has a fully booked orders portfolio for 2009 and the first quarter of 2010.
The main customers of the plant are:
Kleven Maritime (project VS491 – a hull for an anchor laying vessel);
Zanen Shipbuilding BV (project ÑÒ – a hull for a river-sea tanker);
Veka Shipbuilding Service bv (project TIOLI – a hull for a river-sea tanker).
Chernomorsky Shipyard was established in 1897 and gradually grew to become Ukraine’s largest shipbuilding enterprise and one of the largest of this sort in Europe.
During the Soviet Union era, Chernomorsky Shipyard was the leader in the sector of large tonnage vessels with displacement up to 100 thousand ton.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the shipyard fell into a steep decline: production ceased and most of the high-skilled personnel left the enterprise. Finally, the company filed for bankruptcy.
All the efforts to revive the company by the investors not linked with shipbuilding industry failed.
Chernomorsky Shipyard has been restructured and modernized according to the recently adopted crisis program. The plant received new orders, launched the construction of several new vessels, and attracted new high-skilled personnel. The shipyard plans to start full-cycle production of fully-equipped vessels in 2010-2012.
Main clients of Chernomorsky Shipyard include:
Damen Shipyards Bergum (hulls for container ships).
