HE Sea Cloud Spirit, the final major vessel built by MetalShips & Docks, arrived in Vigo in 2018 after a long journey that began years earlier. The ship’s saga traces back to the bankruptcy of the Marín shipyard in Pontevedra, triggered by industry stagnation and tax leasing paralysis, and it lingered in Vigo until 2021 before being delivered to Sea Cloud Cruises. The Sea Cloud Spirit is a three masted schooner, among the largest sailing ships in the world. The vessel measures five decks and spans 4,200 square meters, with a capacity for 136 passengers and 90 crew members. The contract for this shipyard project involved Teis and accounts for roughly 750,000 operating hours, a figure tied to the ship’s heavy operational tempo. During that period, roughly 350 jobs were created, yet the company’s leadership changes did not translate into sustained employment growth, and since 2020 the workforce has been trimmed to around 40 people. At one point, the staff numbered more than 70, but the numbers have steadily declined. Jose Antonio Fernandez Vila, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, notes that 30 individuals have been laid off every few years, with seven losing their positions most recently.
Yesterday, three days after the layoffs were disclosed, workers gathered at the factory gate as the union president prepared to respond. He signaled a readiness to take indefinite strike action and to engage with the CIG and UGT until a clear commitment is secured. The unrest began to take shape at the doorstep of the olive factory, with an action planned for early morning led by CC OO. The mood was tense as workers pressed for definitive answers about the plant’s future.
“No Hiring Policy”
In a later interview, Fernández Vila referred to the current head of MetalShips & Docks as someone who has prioritized cost containment and staffing reduction. He stated that no new ships have been built since the Sea Cloud Spirit, and described a zero hiring policy while noting that most repairs are directed at ships that yield limited returns. He also claimed that his workload was trimmed from the start, with a goal of keeping roughly a dozen employees on the payroll.
The acting committee chair sees a deliberate strategy to reduce staff to ease a potential sale of the shipyard. He criticized the missed opportunity to sell the business to Astilleros Gondán, a deal that could have reshaped the company’s fortunes. Gondán reported a loss of 2.2 million in the most recent financial year, following a 4.5 million loss the year before. He puts a price tag of around 30 million on the facilities, likening it to similar recent sales in the sector.
Road Map
The situation is described as constrained by a lack of buyers. Fernandez Vila emphasizes that there is no quick fix and that everything possible will be done to end the stalemate. A roadmap is expected to be outlined this week, detailing mobilization actions and ensuring the involvement of sector agencies to address the shipyard’s challenges. The acting committee also criticized Manuel Rodríguez, a Galician business leader and owner of Rodman, who chose not to comment. When asked about government intervention, Rodríguez did not commit, raising concerns that the shipyard’s revival may require state participation. The union officials stressed that pressure should not override the need for a sustainable path forward.
Metalships Status
1. No ship built since 2020. The works council notes that the company has not secured new shipbuilding contracts since the arrival of the new CEO.
2. 2.2 million in losses. Concurrently, the company has posted losses alongside a previous year’s 4.5 million, marking a continued downward trend in financial performance.
3. Mobilization actions. In response to layoffs and union pressure, workers are preparing a series of actions in the days ahead to push for a clearer plan and better guarantees for their futures.