PZM contract to build ships set to go to foreign shipyard

A contract to build 20 ships for the largest ship owner, Polska Zegluga Morska (PZM), will probably go to a shipyard in the far east, mostly likely one from Japan or China. PZM said that they had sent a tender invitation to shipyards all over the world, including Polish ones, however domestic yards maintain they never received it. Meanwhile, a Japanese producer presented an attractive offer to build the ships. Analysts say that PZM's contract represented a very good chance which Polish shipyards have lost. If they had won the contract it would have been a great financial boost, helping them to overcome their uncertain future. However, questions remain if Polish banks would be willing to finance construction, and which shipyard could offer terms competitive with ones from the far east. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1, 4) A.D.