Shipbuilder Harland and Wolff has provided the Government with an update on its work towards delivering key naval programmes.
Harland & Wolff has been investing in and upgrading its yards following the awarding of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) contract to Team Resolute, a venture comprising Navantia UK, Harland & Wolff and BMT, in January. The contract has unlocked £77m of public and private investment for Harland & Wolff and the company is expected to create 1,200 UK shipyards jobs across its Belfast and Appledore shipyards throughout the contract’s duration.
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.
James Cartlidge, minister for defence procurement, has visited Harland & Wolff’s Appledore shipyard in Devon, and heard how current projects including the fabrication of barges and recently announced £61m SeaRose FPSO contract to refurbish an oil and gas production vessel.
John Wood, chief executive of Harland & Wolff, said: “It was fantastic to have the Minister visit us in Appledore as we ramp up to deliver the FSS programme. Through the £77m investment we’ve received as part of Team Resolute, we’ve been transforming our yards to become some of the most advanced in the world as well as upskilling our workforce, transferring knowledge from Navantia, and welcoming hundreds of new colleagues into the business.”
Mr Cartlidge added: “Shipbuilding sites such as Harland & Wolff’s Appledore yard are key to diversifying the UK’s industrial maritime capabilities – spreading skills and jobs across the country. It was a real pleasure to see apprentices working at the site, on the pathway to the kind of skilled employment we need to nourish if we are to build a viable industrial base.
“I was particularly pleased to see the progress being made to deliver the FSS programme, which is a Royal Navy priority. This demonstrates how participation in a successful procurement bid is helping to underpin long-term, secure jobs, that will be sustained across Harland & Wolff’s multiple markets within defence and beyond.”
Harland and Wolff’s parent company InfraStrata bought Appledore shipyard in August 2020 in a £7m deal.
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.