1,200 UK JOBS CREATED AS NAVAL SHIPBUILDING RETURNS TO BELFAST
The Belfast shipyard, where the Titanic was built more than 100 years ago to boost the British shipbuilding sector, will be home to new Royal Navy vessels.
- Team Resolute selected as Preferred Bidder to deliver naval support ships
- Highly capable team includes BMT, Harland & Wolff and Navantia UK
- Bolsters UK shipbuilding and delivers on National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh
An Anglo-Spanish consortium that includes Harland & Wolff in Northern Ireland has been awarded the Government contract to construct support ships. The final assembly will take place at the Belfast yard, where the Titanic was built between 1908-1912.
Team Resolute, which also includes Spain’s Navantia and designer BMT, Harland & Wolff, has won the contract. The group fought off an all-British bid from defense giants BAE Systems, Babcock and an Indian shipyard Larsen & Toubro.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated that the deal was a “feather-in-the cap” for Harland & Wolff.
During a visit to Appledore in Devon, Harland & Wolff’s yard, he stated that “shipbuilding is returning to Belfast”.
Insiders from the winning firms previously told The Telegraph up to 60% of the work on these ships could be done in Britain. The vessels will be supplied with food, munitions and spare parts for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
The Ministry of Defence stated today that most of the modules needed for the ships’ construction would be done at Harland & Wolff’s facilities in Belfast and Appledore. Some building work will be completed at Navantia’s yard in Cadiz.
Mr Wallace stated that the news would be a major boost for the UK’s shipbuilding industry.
“By choosing Team Resolute, the Ministry of Defence has selected a proposal that includes £77m of investment in the UK shipyards. This will create around 2,000 jobs and showcase cutting-edge British design.
Unions expressed concern previously that not all work would be done by Britain, despite the country’s considerable expertise.
The Harland & Wolff-led team stated that 1,200 new jobs in the UK shipyard sector will be created. Additionally, the contract will provide support for 800 jobs at suppliers and 200 apprenticeships.
Within a matter of months, Harland & Wolff went from receiving HMRC petitions over unpaid tax bills and landing major defense contracts.
HMRC applied to close a subsidiary of the company in June for an unpaid bill of £92.275.
The company was awarded a £55m contract for the maintenance of minesweeper ships in Lithuania.
The firm was also considered for the construction of the new Royal Yacht, but the plan was scrapped in this month.
John Wood, chief executive at Harland & Wolff said that Team Resolute would make a substantial investment in the UK and contribute to increasing the Union’s defence spending. We will create skilled jobs in the UK, as well as apprenticeships. There will also be four facilities that will allow us to build ships fit for the 21st Century.
Image: CREDIT: News Scan
