Croatian DIV Group takes over Kleven Verft
Hurtigruten's expedition cruise ships Fridtjof Nansen and its sister ship Roald Amundsen were built at Kleven Verft (Source: Lau)
DIV Group, the company that owns Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit, is taking over Norwegian Kleven Verft from cruise operator Hurtigruten. Employees of the Ulsteinvik-based shipbuilder were briefed on the transaction Monday morning.
Hurtigruten wanted to pull out of Kleven after it took delivery of the two expedition cruise ships, the 20,900gt Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, which were built there.
DIV Group's Brodosplit runs a shipyard in Split, Croatia. The deal will see Kleven and Brodosplit become sister companies. It is likely that outfitting of ships will take place at Kleven and hull construction in Croatia. The Kleven brand name will be kept.
The financial details of the merger deal have not been disclosed.
Kleven has been reeling from major financial losses, accumulating some NOK 1.2 billion (USD 122 million) in debt in the last four years.
