TRIESTE – Ownership of the Tehnomont shipyard in Pula has changed hands: Zagreb-based entrepreneur Ante Obućina, through Linear Alpha, has acquired control of the company, taking it over from former shareholders Gordana Deranja, Miljenko Brnić, Aleksandar Šuran and Sean Lisjak.
The deal, reached after months of negotiations and already foreshadowed last autumn with Obućina’s entry into the management, marks a phase of strategic and industrial continuity for the Istrian shipyard. The new owner has in fact ruled out any change in the company’s course: Tehnomont will continue to operate in civilian shipbuilding, focusing on specialized vessels up to 80 metres, including fishing vessels, patrol boats, multipurpose craft and offshore vessels.
Its export focus and the development of innovative solutions such as hybrid vessels have also been confirmed. The position on the defence industry is unequivocal, with the group set to remain completely outside that segment. On the operational side, the company can rely on a solid orderbook: contracts already secured guarantee full production capacity through 2028, with negotiations under way to extend visibility into 2029. Recent orders include the delivery of a vessel for the Norwegian aquaculture sector, while another is currently undergoing sea trials. At the same time, investment plans have already been launched to strengthen the shipyard’s competitiveness, with measures aimed at expanding production capacity and upgrading technology, also through the possible use of European funds.
Tehnomont, which employs around 200 people, remains a niche player valued on international markets. In 2024 it posted revenue of 13.1 million euros and net profit of 193,000 euros, confirming a solid industrial structure, albeit on a limited scale. On the sellers’ side, former director Gordana Deranja stressed that the sale had long been planned, with the aim of ensuring continuity in shipbuilding production. Other expressions of interest were not lacking, including from parties looking to redevelop the area into a tourist marina, but that option was rejected in favour of preserving industrial activity.