A creditor of troubled Croatian shipbuilder Uljanik Group is seeking the bankruptcy of its 3 Maj yard.

SeeNews reported that domestic metal and plastic products manufacturer Strojopromet Zagreb said on Tuesday it had requested the launch of bankruptcy proceedings.

It has $893,000 of claims against the yard for goods and services provided, and said these were accepted by 3 Maj on 13 April last year.

Last week, the commercial court in Rijeka launched a procedure for establishing the conditions for opening bankruptcy proceedings against 3 Maj.

This was at the request of Croatia's Financial Agency, after 3 Maj's bank account had been blocked for 120 days over debts of $11m.

Zdravko Cupkovic has been appointed temporary bankruptcy manager, local media said.

A court hearing for the launch of bankruptcy proceedings is set for 6 February.

Uljanik Group has been finding it difficult to pay wages promptly and has been hit by strikes and vessel cancellations.

Last month it scrapped a deal with domestic yard owner Danko Koncar's Kermas Energija that saw it invest as a strategic partner.

Italian yard giant Fincantieri and Australia's Scenic Cruises are carrying out due diligence separately, with a view to being new investors in the group.