Navantia UK to acquire Harland & Wolff’s shipyards
Navantia UK has agreed to acquire all four shipyards of British shipbuilder Harland & Wolff in the UK, securing 1,000 shipbuilding jobs and strengthening Britain’s industrial capacity.
Navantia, the Spanish state-owned company specialising in the design and construction of high technology military and civilian vessels, will acquire Harland & Wolff’s shipyards across four sites: Belfast in Northern Ireland, Appledore in the South West of England, and Methil and Arnish in Scotland.
The deal will enhance UK shipbuilding, defence and offshore wind industry capabilities, developing both a highly skilled workforce and a robust British supply chain. This will strengthen the country’s sovereign industrial capacity.
Under the proposed agreement, which remains subject to completion and regulatory approvals, Navantia UK will manage all four facilities, bringing its extensive expertise in shipbuilding, fabrication, complex programme management and fostering knowledge transfer.
As prime contractor for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme, Navantia UK leads the construction of three ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to support the Royal Navy’s UK Carrier Strike Group. These vessels will be built across facilities in Belfast, Appledore and Puerto Real (Cádiz, Spain).
The integration of Harland & Wolff’s facilities will ensure seamless delivery of the FSS ships by minimising programme risks and streamlining construction. The deal is expected to be completed in January 2025.
UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey said:
“This agreement keeps vital defence manufacturing in the UK and protects skilled jobs at historic shipyards across our nations.
“It strengthens our sovereign capability to support Royal Navy operations worldwide, while building the industrial partnerships that will drive growth.
“The deal represents a major investment into the UK’s industrial base from Navantia UK and will provide opportunities for future naval work at Harland & Wolff’s shipyards across the country, which could create new jobs and give a boost to the UK’s coastal communities nationwide.”
In August 2024, Harland & Wolff was issued a new loan worth $25m to save it from collapse.
The company announced via the London Stock Exchange that its existing creditors had extended the shipyard’s lines by $25m.
However, the shipbuilder entered administration in September as the company continued to struggle with a debt crisis. The company announced its plans to either dispose of or wind down its non-core business functions.
In 2023, Harland & Wolff started demolition works at its Belfast site as part of preparation and investment plans for the block manufacture and assembly of the FSS vessels.