Abandon Shipyard! Szczecin finally runs aground

The Commercial Court in Szczecin has announced the bankruptcy of Stocznia S zczecinska Porta Holding SA and Stocznia Szczecinska SA. At the beginning of August the shipyard workers are to receive financial aid from the Guaranteed Remuneration Fund (FGSP). Each of the 5,500 employees will receive a maximum gross salary of zl. 2250, meaning a net value of zl. 1600. The remainder of the delayed remunerations are to be paid by the receiver after taking over control of the company's assets. Andrzej Stachura, president of the New Szc zecin Shipyard (Stocznia Szczecinska Nowa - SSN), announced that agreements with Pekao SA on continuing the construction of three ships should be reach ed this week - two ferries and one chemical tanker are already 90% complete. The president hopes that his company will sign contracts in Germany for the construction of three "B178" series container ships, each worth $31.5 milli on. In his opinion there is a good chance that his company will receive ord ers to build 13 such ships. The president announced that around 2,000 people have applied for jobs in SSN, while twice as many may be hired. SSN has sig ned six agreements for the completion of ships that were started by Stocznia Szczecinska SA. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) P.W.