The iconic Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast has been saved through a deal with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, following the shipyard’s holding company entering administration in October.
The agreement is expected to preserve 1,000 jobs and includes facilities in Ireland, Scotland, and England, securing employment for the long term.
Navantia, a significant player in the cruise drydock industry, has conducted drydocking for major cruise lines and has multiple projects planned through 2028 at its facilities, including a reconditioning project for Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.
Westminster Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasized that the deal is beneficial for both job security and the national security of the United Kingdom, reflecting the strategic importance of the shipbuilding sector.
Concerns remain around the long-term stability of the yards, emphasising the need for consistent work to sustain employment and growth in the maritime industry.
Having once employed 40,000 workers in Belfast, the shipyards saw worker numbers fall to 400 in recent years.
Historically a hotbed of militant unionism, the Belfast shjpyards were the scene of violent anti-Catholic pogroms in 1886, 1912. 1920-21, 1935, 1939, 1943, 1969 and 1970.
