Navantia strikes deal to save Harland & Wolff shipyards

Belfast-based Harland & Wolff (H&W), which has been in administration since September 2024, has been rescued in a deal with Spain state-owned shipbuilder Navantia.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though reports put the price tag at £70M (US$88M) to acquire its operations across four sites: Belfast in Northern Ireland, Appledore in the South West of England, and Methil and Arnish in Scotland.

The Spanish shipbuilder’s Navantia UK as prime contractor is teamed with H&W and ship designer BMT for the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme under a £1.6Bn (US$2.0Bn) contract. The three non-combatant ships will supply dry stores 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 UK Government said it “worked closely with Navantia UK and agreed an amendment to the existing FSS Programme contract on commercial terms, which makes the minimum changes necessary to ensure Navantia can still deliver on the contract and build all three Navy ships.”

UK Business & Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, called the agreement “a major vote of confidence in the UK from Navantia,” noting it would “not only secure the future of UK shipbuilding but protect 1,000 jobs across the country and bring future investment into shipbuilding right across the UK.”

H&W’s storied past includes the construction of Titantic for White Star Line.

Navantia said the deal, which is expected to close in January and subject to regulatory approval, would “enhance UK shipbuilding, defence and offshore wind industry capabilities, developing both a highly skilled workforce and a robust British supply chain.”

MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) reported it had won a contract to supply the propulsion package for the ships. The engine designer will supply 12 V32/44CR propulsion engines, six L32/44CR gensets, selective catalytic reduction systems for each engine and three twin-screw Alpha CP propellers and plant auxiliaries.