French group ALSTOM has sold ALSTOM MARINE (operating loss of over 100 million euro in 2004-2005), best known for its CHANTIERS DE L'ATLANTIQUE, to the Norwegian company AKER YARDS at the cost of financial sacrifice: it will receive 50 million euro but will have to inject 350 million euro to bail out the shipyards. Initially ALSTOM will sell 75% of its subsidiary, and will retain the remaining 25% until 2010, when these too will be sold to AKER YARDS. About 3000 Alstom employees will transfer to the joint venture, which will create the second largest cruise ship builder.