Harland & Wolff teams up with Spanish shipyard to bid for MOD work

The Belfast shipyard’s collaboration with Navantia is an attempt to disrupt what has been described by Harland & Wolff’s new owners as the “UK defence shipbuilding duopoly that currently exists”.

Known as Team Resolute, the joint venture will bid for UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts to provide fleet support vessels for the Carrier Strike Group.

Parent company InfraStrata also said it has identified “future naval, commercial and offshore renewable contracts” it would be interested in bidding for.

Energy firm InfraStrata completed its purchase of Harland and Wolff in December 2019 after the shipyard’s Norwegian parent company collapsed – putting the 120 Belfast-based jobs at risk.

Commenting on the Team Resolute project, InfraStrata chief executive John Wood said: “This partnership has the capability and credibility to disrupt the UK defence shipbuilding duopoly that currently exists, providing much needed competition in the defence sector to ensure value for money and guaranteed delivery.”

Mr Wood added: “Team Resolute will create a more level playing field when competing for upcoming defence contracts. It will also provide Harland & Wolff with a strong proposition to tender for contracts in the oil and gas, cruise and ferry, commercial and renewable sectors.

“We have always selected our partners carefully. In Navantia, we see a long term partner not only within the defence sector – we are also in advanced discussions for further teaming agreements in relation to offshore wind farms.”

Abel Méndez of Navantia said: “It is clear that under a new management team, Harland & Wolff is a shipyard that is forward-thinking, agile and ready to do business. We are excited about this new collaboration and the opportunities it will bring for both partners.”

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson said: “I think this should be hugely welcomed locally as it creates a good prospect to get back into defence work, which has been missing from the shipyard for quite some time.”

Commenting on the potential for new employment opportunities in the medium to long term, Mr Robinson said it will take time to address the shortage of high-end welding and fabrication skills, but that he is hopeful those trades can ultimately be resurrected locally.

“You need big contracts, and a pipeline of work, to build a sustainable core workforce which is the ambition of the local management,” he added.