The revival of Harland and Wolff under Navantia UK

The historic Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff, renowned for building the Titanic, has been given a new lease of life following its acquisition by the UK arm of Navantia, the Spanish state-owned shipbuilder. The £93 million takeover marks a significant shift in the British defence sector, as vessels for the Royal Navy will now be constructed under foreign ownership.

Navantia UK’s immediate goal is to ensure the timely delivery of three fleet solid support (FSS) ships. These vessels, designed to transport munitions and provisions on the high seas, are scheduled to be completed by 2032. Despite the financial turmoil faced by Harland & Wolff’s previous owner, InfraStrata, Navantia has committed to keeping the project on track. The first ship is expected to enter production by the end of this year after a critical design review is signed off this autumn.

Although controversial, the acquisition ensures Harland & Wolff survives, with plans to expand and modernise the shipyard. Navantia aims to invest £115 million in upgrades, which will include the installation of new panel fabrication lines, workshops, and expanded welfare and training facilities. Much of the infrastructure remains outdated, with some elements untouched for decades, according to Navantia UK’s chief executive, Donato Martinez.

The acquisition also includes the Appledore yard in North Devon, as well as offshore wind and oil and gas facilities in Methil and Arnish. While Harland & Wolff will continue its ship repair operations for commercial clients like Stena, its shipbuilding focus will shift entirely to defence. Previously competing with Chinese and Korean shipyards for commercial contracts, the shift will allow Harland & Wolff to concentrate on naval construction.

Navantia’s plans don’t end with the FSS programme. By hiring 600 staff in Belfast, including 170 apprentices, the shipyard plans to expand its workforce to 1,500 by the peak of the programme in 2029-2030. Across all its yards, Navantia UK expects to provide 2,000 jobs by the early 2030s. It is positioning itself to secure future Ministry of Defence contracts, such as multi-role strike and support ships, which could produce work for the next decade.

Other opportunities include producing offshore patrol vessels for the UK Border Force and uncrewed surface drone vessels. Methil and Arnish, meanwhile, are poised to develop floating dry docks for submarines and warships. Navantia envisions itself as part of a “Big Three” in British naval construction, joining BAE Systems and Babcock in delivering major defence projects.

The £2 billion FSS programme, whose cost has risen from the original £1.6 billion due to inflation, underscores the importance of investment in this sector. For Harland & Wolff, the partnership with Navantia represents a chance to rise from its troubled history and secure its future as a cornerstone of British naval construction.