Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Major Progress

Harland & Wolff, a wholly owned subsidiary of InfraStrata plc, and soon to be known as Harland & Wolff Group Holdings plc, as Afloat previously reported has announced several key successes across its yards in Belfast and Appledore.

In addition to highlighting the progression it has seen in both the UK's Fleet Solid Support Warships and National Flagship competitions.

Harland & Wolff (Belfast)

The Harland & Wolff (Belfast) team provided its first major in-service support to Virgin Voyage’s new cruiseship Scarlet Lady. The team provided the necessary support efficiently and without having to take it out of operation. This is a significant step towards providing high value add services to clients whilst ensuring vessels remain in operation – saving clients’ money by avoiding dry dockings and the need to take vessels out of service.

The yard in Belfast Harbour is bolstering its global reputation as a large vessel ready facility that is open for business. Currently home to the P&O's Azura, the largest cruiseship to have entered the yard thus far.

At the facilities quayside of the Repair Dock, is also set to welcome Dorset Spirit, a crude oil tanker measuring over 279 meters in length. Sailing from Canada to Harland & Wolff for repair works, this is the first time since the acquisition of the assets in 2019 that a vessel of this size will enter the yard's Building Dock.

Harland & Wolff (Appledore)

At Harland & Wolff (Appledore), the company's facility in north Devon, England, awaits the arrival of MT Entsha, an offshore supply ship, which is expected to arrive during the third week of October. Fabrication work has already commenced on a major crane upgrade and mezzanine deck as part of its wider conversion works that will be undertaken once the vessel has docked. This project effectively reactivates Harland & Wolff (Appledore)’s fabrication halls and demonstrates its readiness to take on larger and more complex works programmes.

Team Resolute

As reported in the press, Team Resolute has been down-selected by the Ministry of Defence for the Fleet Solid Support Programme and has been invited into the next phase of the programme – the Commercial Procurement Phase (CPP). Harland & Wolff is an integral part of Team Resolute and will be participating in the first stage, the design stage, within the CPP, alongside BMT and Navantia.

National Flagship

As the UK Government launched the National Shipbuilding Office earlier this week, an announcement was made that the Harland & Wolff led consortium that includes Foreship and SMC has been successfully down-selected for the design phase of the prestigious National Flagship Programme. The ship will be built in the UK with construction expected to begin as soon as next year.

John Wood, Group CEO of commented: “It is fantastic to see multiple contracts being awarded to Harland & Wolff across Belfast and Appledore. These range from minor “bread & butter” type of works to major contracts that have the capacity to grow even more in value over time. We are now being recognised as a shipyard business that is professional, cost effective and customer attentive. This recognition is clearly demonstrated by a series of new client wins and repeat business from our existing clients. Looking ahead, I believe that we have laid the firm foundations for rapid growth and the build-up of a contractual pipeline for 2022 and beyond.”

Published in Shipyards

Whether you're a boat enthusiast, historian, archaeologist, fisherman, or just taken by the natural beauty of Ireland's waterways, you will find something of interest in our Inland pages on Afloat.ie.

Inland Waterways

Ireland is lucky to have a wealth of river systems and canals crossing the country that, while once vital for transporting goods, are today equally as important for angling, recreational boating and of course tourism.

From the Barrow Navigation to the Erne System, the Grand Canal, the Lower Bann, the Royal Canal, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation, these inland waterways are popular year in, year out for anyone with an interest in rambling; flora and fauna; fishing; sailing; motorboating; canoeing, kayaking and waterskiing; and cruising on narrowboats.

Although most will surely identify Ireland's inland waterways with boating holidays and a peaceful afternoon's angling, many varieties of watersport are increasingly favoured activities. Powerboat and Jetski courses abound, as do opportunities for waterskiing or wakeboarding. For those who don't require engine power, there's canoeing and kayaking, as Ireland's waterways have much to offer both recreational paddlers and those looking for more of a challenge. And when it comes to more sedate activities, there's nothing like going for a walk along a canal or river bank following some of the long-distance Waymarked Ways or Slí na Sláinte paths that criss-cross the country.

Ireland's network of rivers, lakes and canals is maintained by Waterways Ireland, which is one of the six North/South Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement in 1999. The body has responsibility for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of inland navigable waterways on the island of Ireland, principally for recreational purposes. It also maintains Ireland's loughs, lakes and channels which are sought after for sailing; the network of canal locks and tow paths; as well as any buoys, bridges and harbours along the routes.

Along the Grand and Royal Canals and sections of the Barrow Navigation and the Shannon-Erne Waterway, Waterways Ireland is also responsible for angling activities, and charges Inland Fisheries Ireland with carrying out fisheries development, weed management and ensuring water quality.

Brian Goggin's Inland Blog

Giving his personal perspective on Ireland's Inland Waterways from present-day activities to their rich heritage, Brian Goggin tells it like it is with his Inland Blog.

From recognising achievements in management of the waterways to his worries on the costs of getting afloat on Ireland's canals, Goggin always has something important to say.

He also maintains the website Irish Waterways History that serves as a repository for a wealth of historical accounts of the past commercial and social uses alike of Ireland's rivers and canals, which were once the lifeblood of many a rural community.