Allan,
Thanks for the info about the ATLANTIC BRIDGE. I hadn't realised she'd gone. As for the MARGARET HILL, yes, there is a potential plan for her to be converted, but that's still in the pipeline. In the meantime, she has struggled to find work in the spot market and has spent most of this year idle. Effectively, she is laid up.
I don't see the connection between the yard and the laying up of the two containerships. Ships are lying idle because of the current economic slump and where they are built has no bearing on this. However, Szczecin Nowa, the restructured Szczecin Shipyard, is already in dire financial difficulties and has been for some time. Along with the other main Polish yard at Gdynia, they have to pay back millions of Euros in illigal state aid. The assest of the yards will be sold off, or alternatively they face bankrupcly, but whatever happens shipbuilding is likely to end. As it is, they are struggling to complete orders which are running 1-2 years behind schedule, the owners having walked away in most instances.