With headquarters in Oslo, Norway, STX Europe operated 15 shipyards in Brazil, Finland, France, Norway, Romania and Vietnam. The company had three business areas: Cruise & Ferries, Offshore & Specialized Vessels and Other Operations.
In 2012, with rising outstanding debts, STX retained the Finnish cruise shipbuilding yard and sold the remainder as STX OSV Holdings, (Offshore & Specialist Vessels), including all the yards, to Fincantieri, which renamed the group Vard.
In September 2014 STX Finland was sold, 70% to Meyer Werft and 30% to the Finnish government. The operations were continued under name Meyer Turku thereafter. Meyer Werft acquired the Finnish government's 30% in April 2015.
The evolution of STX Europe originated with the founding of two prominent shipbuilding groups in Europe. One was the Norway-based Aker Yards, created in 2004 by combining the shipbuilding activities of Aker and Kværner with the France-based Alstom shipbuilding group, which has shipyards (formerly those of Chantiers de l'Atlantique) in Saint-Nazaire and in Lorient.
Transition to STX Europe, and expansion: 2006–2012
On 4 January 2006, Aker Yards and Alstom announced their intention to join forces in shipbuilding and create together one of the world leaders in this industry, focused on high-value-added ships, including world-class cruise ships.[2][3] The merger gave Aker Yards a majority shareholding over Alstom's shipbuilding activities; which included Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard – the builder of the liner RMS Queen Mary 2.
Aker ASA, the majority shareholder of Aker Yards; reduced its ownership share from 50.4% to 40.1% in January 2007. Aker divested its total shareholding in March 2007, and in October 2007, STX Business Group secured a 39.2% stake of Aker yards. Later, STX took a controlling stake, and renamed the group to STX Europe on 3 November 2008 to reflect the new ownership structure.[4][5]
In January 2009, STX business group acquired the remaining shares in STX Europe and became the company's sole shareholder. In February 2009, it was decided to delist STX Europe from Oslo Stock Exchange where it was previously listed under the ticker STXEUR.
Operations
Photo from Wadan Yards in Wismar, Germany, previously partly owned by STX Europe
The Cruise & Ferries division constructs vessels mainly at shipyards in Finland and France. The business area had revenues of NOK 19,709 million in 2008.
STX OSV Tulcea SA and STX OSV Braila SA - both yards are now part of Vard Shipyard Romana, a Fincantieri Company.
STX Europe has two shipyards in Romania: Braila and Tulcea. The steel hulls for most of STX Europe's new building projects (Offshore & Specialized Vessels) are being built by Braila and Tulcea in Romania. STX Europe's yard in Braila is situated 170 km up the River Danube. Portfolios consist of hull production, delivery of complete merchant vessels together with repair and conversion work. The yard has a 1300m long outfitting quay, facilities for simultaneous mounting or repairing of 12 vessels and equipped with multiple 50 tonne portal cranes. The mounting platform and launching berth have capacity for vessels up to 135 x 23 m and a maximum launching and lifting weight of 2500 tonne and 2200 tonne respectively.
STX Europe's yard in Tulcea is located at nautical mile 39.5 on the right bank of the Danube, upstream of Tulcea, and it is one of the youngest Romanian firms in the field. In Tulcea STX Europe offers services in shipbuilding, conversions and repairs. It has a large covered hall where four ships can be built simultaneously. Over 6000 people working here, it is the greater capacity of offshore and specialised division.
