AB ”Vakarø laivø gamykla“ (VLG) – one of the biggest Lithuanian companies shall celebrate its 40 year activity jubilee in 2009.
VLG history started in 1966, when a specialized fishing industry big tonnage ship repair yard construction for the grown Lithuanian fleet repair was begun in the southern part of the port. By the project that had to be the biggest and the most modern yard within northwestern region, also the biggest one in Klaipeda - 50 ha of the territory, 3 km of quays, production workshops – 100 th. m², 10 000 employees.
March 1,1969 is the official birthday of Western Shipyard and its cessionary AB “Vakarø laivø gamykla“. The same year, in July 18, the first ship was put in a dock for repair.
In 1975 companys had 2600 employees; the second yard workshop construction phase was started. Western Shipyard repaired trawlers – refrigerators, plants, and other fishing vessels.
After the downfall of the USSR, huge fishing fleet became a burden for Lithuanian Republic. Ships were sold or written down to scrap. In 1993 company restructured its activity and turned to repair Western countries ships. Since then company‘s strengthening within international market went on and on.
Greek bulker “Marika“was the first ship for repair from Western countries, and in 1998 company built the first fishing vessel ”Vendla“.
The Norvegian company group “Western Invest AS”privatized company in 1998. In the same year ship building was started in the company. However, after the Norvegians failure to follow their financial obligations, Estonian concern “BLRT Grupp” acquired the controlling interest of at that time AB “Vakarø laivø remontas” in 2001.
After a successful reorganization in 2003, company was restructured into ”Vakarø laivø gamykla” company group, with even 23 companies within it. The main AB “Vakarø laivø gamykla“activity trends are: ship repair and conversion, ship building, stevedoring and storage services, metal construction production, metal processing, hot galvanization, transport services, procurement, etc.
In June,2007 AB “Vakarø laivø gamykla“ and the Norwegian company“Fiskerstrand Verft AS” established joint company ”Fiskerstrand BLRT AS“ to deal with the preparation of ship building conception, marketing and project managment.
VLG group is developing further. Negotiations with the global level ship crane, hatch cover, ramp production and repair company “McGregor“ are in process, and a joint company is planned to be established in 2008.
Lithuanian Industrial Confederation nominated AB "Vakarø laivø gamykla" (VLG) "Lithuanian Year Exporter 2007" title within big company group. Previously AB "Vakarø laivø gamykla" was also granted Lithuanian Industrial Confederation established title “ Year Exporter – 2005“,also Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce established "Year Exporter prize – 2006".
Great facilities, secured quality and fine results allow to assert that VLG has successfully won its positions within ferry, multifunction and offshore ship construction business, also a part of ship repair market.
