Germany's Fosen Nordseewerke has filed for bankruptcy protection again following its takeover by Norway's Fosen Group last year.

The filing is the shipbuilder's fourth in six years.

The Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung cited a company statement as saying the move was necessary because shareholders could not reach an agreement on joint financing of operations.

The state government wants to maintain the shipyard in Emden and secure the employment of 85 workers long-term, according to Lower Saxony's minister of economics Bernd Althusmann.