<\/p>\n
Norway\u2019s PASSER Group AS acquired SIDC Group UAB in 2020 with the goal to transform the Klaipeda-based company into a full-service EPCI provider with complete control of the value chain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe deciding factor for PASSER was that SIDC was a perfect match for their targeted development strategy,\u201d said PASSER SIDC Group Marketing Director Arnoldas Laurisonis.<\/p>\n
“We came on PASSER\u2019s radar primarily because of our convenient location in the Baltic and attractive cost base. They were impressed by SIDC\u2019s good track record since the company was established 10 years ago, and we had also proven our ability to successfully manage and deliver very large offshore and shipbuilding projects,\u201d said Laurisonis.<\/p>\n
\u201cKlaipeda has been the base for PASSER fabrication activity since our beginning, and we have developed an extensive network with local cooperation partners. PASSER SIDC stood out as a highly competent partner with great ability to execute these demanding projects prior to becoming a part of the PASSER Group family. Their track record and our relation to the company contributed to our decision to acquire PASSER SIDC and continue our operation in Klaipeda. Many years with great cooperation together with competent local companies was the deciding factor,\u201d said PASSER Group Director Business Development, Espen Brudal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe experience Klaipeda as a city with a well-established industry fitting our business, in addition there is a good supply of experienced and competent people. The geographical location is also in relative proximity to PASSER Group\u2019s head office in Sandefjord. The location is well suited for transport by sea to our customers, which makes it ideal for our solutions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Laurisonis says that it was great news when PASSER said they wanted to acquire the company. \u201cEverybody was excited because of the opportunities it would bring in terms of new and interesting work. Plus, we were all relieved that the buyer was Norwegian. As Lithuanians we identify closely with Scandinavian culture and values.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s core activities today include the design and construction of metal structures for the renewable energy and offshore oil-and-gas industry, as well as shipbuilding, repair and modernization.<\/p>\n
Shipbuilding success<\/strong> \u201cThe customer, Boreal Group, was satisfied. The project demonstrated the quality of our ship design and engineering capability here in Klaipeda,\u201d says Laurisonis. The ship can be modified for use as an aquaculture service vessel, for oil-recovery operations, crew transportation, quay construction, tug functions, fishing, sea research, underwater works or leisure purposes.<\/p>\n PASSER SIDC also acquired a Dutch shipyard last year as part of its ongoing expansion. \u201cWe have contracts in hand for four ships and 10 vessel hull block that require special facilities, but all operations will be administered from Klaipeda,\u201d says Laurisonis. Espen Brudal, Director Business Development, PASSER Group (Photo: PASSER Group)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Opening new markets PASSER SIDC is also engaged in building a large state-of-the-art wood pulp mill in Uruguay and Finland, including construction and installation of seven process tanks up to 70 meters in height. \u201cWe are leveraging our skill base all the way to South America with a strong team of specialists from Klaipeda working on site,\u201d says Laurisonis.<\/p>\n New plant in the making<\/strong> Klaipeda\u2019s established maritime cluster is not of immediate importance in terms of customers. \u201cRight now, we have a lot of international orders so we do not rely on the local market so much. However, we do have an ongoing research development project with Klaipeda University studying tank containment systems for hydrogen. It\u2019s a good example of how we are working together with the knowledge base and I\u2019m sure there will more collaboration opportunities in future,\u201d Laurisonis says.<\/p>\n What he does emphasize is the city\u2019s business-friendly environment. \u201cWe definitely recommend Klaipeda as an attractive location for other Nordic companies to establish operations, particularly because of the well-functioning port and good infrastructure. The bureaucracy is really easy versus 10 or 20 years ago. There are also a lot of consultancy companies helping start-ups and foreign companies who want to invest here,\u201d says Laurisonis.<\/p>\n He highlights the growing popularity of technology parks in Lithuania. \u201cFor example, Klaipeda Science and Technolgy Park is very active in promoting innovation in green and blue marine technologies, including the local LNG cluster, while the second phase of the Baltic Tech Park is now underway with a new building housing SMK University of Applied Social Sciences,\u201d he says. Klaipeda Seaport is also working hard to develop new business, especially offshore wind energy in the Baltic.<\/p>\n Recruiting the right people has presented no major problems. \u201cDepending on the field, finding a local professional with the relevant technical education and specialized experience in only a couple of weeks can be a challenge \u2013 as it is anywhere in Europe. We have succeeded in developing our team both by hiring locally and bringing in skilled people from elsewhere, particularly Ukraine,\u201d says Laurisonis.<\/p>\n Solid talent pipeline<\/strong> Laurisonis highlights Klaipeda\u2019s safe living environment, which is perfect for families and kids. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to get around, everyone speaks English, and we have a lot of cultural and leisure offerings. I\u2019ve lived in Klaipeda all my life and I love the spectacular nature. People who move here never want to leave!\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody involved in promoting Klaipeda was very happy when PASSER Group invested in buying SIDC Group,\u201d comments Diana Manko, Head of Business at city development agency Klaipeda ID. \u201cTheir presence strengthens our industrial and shipbuilding base as well as our competence in the renewable-energy sector. We wish them every success as part of our growing maritime cluster with global reach.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n maritime professional<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Norway\u2019s PASSER Group AS acquired SIDC Group UAB in 2020 with the goal to transform the Klaipeda-based company into a full-service EPCI provider with complete control of the value chain.\u00a0 \u201cThe deciding factor for PASSER was that SIDC was a perfect match for their targeted development strategy,\u201d said PASSER SIDC Group Marketing Director Arnoldas Laurisonis. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maritime-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31355"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31355\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/31354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.al-sindbad.net\/rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u201cPreviously we only fabricated parts of new ships, before building our complete first ship three years ago \u2013 the multipurpose catamaran service vessel Runa \u2013 just before the PASSER buy-up,\u201d said Laurisonis. SIDC undertook full drafting and coordination of the vessel design, hull and equipment installation, all sea trials and delivery to the client.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/strong>With PASSER\u2019s solid backing the company is strengthening the local economy with more new jobs. \u201cWe also aim to focus on the renewable energy market as a business-development priority. Lithuania is maturing in terms of wind and solar energy, and we can help develop the sector with specialized products and engineering services. Opening up opportunities in this market is another reason PASSER decided to buy us,\u201d Laurisonis says.<\/p>\n
The company is also in the midst of establishing new workshops in Klaipeda that will be used for product assembly. \u201cIt was easy to find an appropriate site near the port and we plan to complete construction work this year,\u201d says Laurisonis. PASSER SIDC\u2019s ambition for the new plant is to increase turnover twofold serving its main European markets.<\/p>\n
Pretty much all PASSER SIDC\u2019s local engineers are graduates of Klaipeda University so there is a good pipeline of young people determined to progress their careers. \u201cThere\u2019s another great university close in Kaunas as well. Some of our engineers have practically grown up in the company. The big benefit is that we have very low staff churn,\u201d says Laurisonis, who himself joined SIDC six years ago as a graduate.<\/p>\n