Approximately 900 shipyard jobs at Harland & Wolff are to be created in what has been described as an "historic moment for shipbuilding in Belfast".

The shipyard located in Queen's Island was awarded the contract from the UK MoD as part of the Team Resolute consortium to deliver the Fleet Solid Support programme (FSS) of three vessels for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The consortium comprises Harland and Wolff, BMT and Navantia UK.

On a visit to the shipyard, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris confirmed the £1.6 billion contract which will see the FSS ships serve the requirements of the Royal Navy.

More from BelfastLive on the contract to assemble the newbuilds in Belfast following construction at H&W Appledore and Navantia's shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

As Afloat reported today, Maritime UK Week (10-16 October) is underway with the Belfast shipyard of the Harland & Wolff Group also joining in celebrating the maritime sector campaign.

In addition Harland & Wolff will also highlight their sites, skills, and people as part of the Martime Week's campaign to focus on the latest developments in the maritime sector and engage people across the UK with the world of maritime.

The week long event is led by Maritime UK, the umbrella body for the maritime sector, bringing together the shipping, ports, services, engineering and leisure marine industries.

Throughout the week, people are invited to explore the world of maritime through a series of careers fairs and open days, among them an 'Open Day' to be held tomorrow on the Isles of Scilly ferry.

During the week, Harland & Wolff will be hosting a first on site roundtable at their Belfast yard which is Centred on Pride in Maritime.

This industry roundtable, is to be held on 13 October (10am – 11:30am) which is to bring together leaders and network members to discuss progress on ensuring maritime is welcoming for the LGBT+ community.

In addition for more information about Maritime UK's careers events page click here.

Harland & Wolff shipyard has acquired the former UK Royal Navy HMS Atherstone from the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

HMS Atherstone was launched in 1986 as the Hunt-class Mine Counter-Measures Vessel (MCMV), that is no longer in service.

The acquisition by Harland & Wolff of the vessel is with a view to refurbishing it for non-military uses, discussions for which have already commenced with interested parties.

Harland & Wolff is involved in a competition run by the MOD regeneration programme for the former HMS Quorn (M55). It believes that the acquisition of the former

HMS Atherstone will significantly de-risk the M55 regeneration programme given that the two vessels share a number of spare parts and components.

Should Harland & Wolff be awarded the regeneration programme for the M55, such spare parts and components on the HMS Atherstone will be utilised during the regeneration programme of the M55. It expects negotiations with the MOD on the M55 regeneration programme to be completed in the next few weeks with an announcement to be made thereafter, should an award be made in Harland & Wolff’s favour.

Harland & Wolff, group CEO John Wood, commented: “I am delighted that we have acquired the former HMS Atherstone.

“The benefits of this acquisition are two-fold; we now can significantly de-risk the M55 regeneration programme by utilising spares and component parts common to the two vessels, which has been recognised by MOD and will certainly help in closing out the negotiations over the next few weeks.

“Secondly, we also can utilise this platform as the basis for other clients’ projects, which will be a valuable revenue stream for 2023.

“I am pleased that we have generated a lot of interest for the repurposing of the former HMS Atherstone, and I expect to make announcements in this regard as soon as we have executed a refurbishment contract with a counterparty.”

The shipyard owner of Belfast's Harland & Wolff has said its business is improving after announcing a pre-tax loss of £25.5 million for its latest reporting period.

Infrastrata PLC, which bought the company out of administration in late 2019, officially began trading under the Harland and Wolff name last September.

The group, which is also seeking to develop gas storage caverns under Larne Lough at Islandmagee, said it is in year three of a five-year plan to make the shipyard profitable again.

But it said the war in Ukraine and the ongoing energy crisis have hit those plans.

Publishing its accounts for the 17 months ending December 31 2021, Harland and Wolff Group Holdings PLC said revenues grew to £18.5m during the period, up from £1.5m for the year to July 31 2020.

The company has now absorbed pre-tax losses of around £36m in the last two reporting periods, with losses reaching £25.5m in the latest 17 months.

It put the losses down to “significant investment to support future growth of the business”, including the acquisition of three shipyards.

Appledore in Devon was acquired in August 2020, followed by Scottish yards Methil and Arnish in February 2021. All three now bear the Harland and Wolff branding.

The Irish News reports more on the shipyard group. 

As pictured above is the Northern Lighthouse Board's aids to navigation tender, NLV Pharos which Afloat reported last month. 

Shipyard group, Harland & Wolff has launched their fishing vessel newbuild and marine services at the Irish Skipper Expo 2022 held in Limerick which continues tomorrow, Saturday, 26th March between 10am-4pm.

Displaying the capacity and capability of two world-renowned shipyards – Harland & Wolff (Belfast) and Harland & Wolff (Appledore) are to showcase the experience and expertise of their team across these both these sites.

H&W will also be premiering their own fishing vessel design for those who want a ready-package and showcasing its bespoke service offering too.

This launch comes as the UK’s new build fishing vessel capacity is in high demand and with lead times growing. H&W say they have immediate capacity to service this sector and build vessels at these shipyards.

The Irish Skipper Expo is held at the University of Limerick' Sport Arena in Castletroy. The event is Ireland’s flagship fisheries venue designed to showcase a vast array of equipment and support services available to the commercial fishing sector.

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.”

Parent company of Harland & Wolff has said it is ready to bid for an estimated £30m 10-year deal to dry-dock, repair and maintain two giant UK Royal Navy 'Queen Elizabeth' class aircraft carriers.

InfraStrata shut down large parts of its Belfast dockyard for four months last year to carry out maintenance and upgrades to ensure the shipyard was in a strong position to bid for the lucrative contract.

The yard will face opposition from one other facility, Rosyth on the east coast of Scotland, where the two 'QE' carriers were built.

More from the Belfast Telegraph.

As Afloat previously reported the pair of QE aircraft carriers, had involved sections of the vessels to be built throughout various yards, among them Appledore Shipyard.

The north Devon facility which built a quartet of OPV90 'P60' class for the Irish Naval Service, was last year acquired by Infrastrata.

Belfast's iconic Harland & Wolff shipyard, has announced the appointment of a new General Manager, Tom Hart to its Appledore shipyard in England, which was acquired a year ago.

Bringing over 30 years of experience in project, operations and construction management throughout the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, Mr Hart joins Harland & Wolff (Appledore) from Dubai based, Drydocks World where he was Director of Projects & Engineering.

He joins after the site has enjoyed major investment and upgrades since the InfraStrata plc acquisition and is now fully operational.

Mr Hart began his career in the Merchant Navy as a cadet before moving to P&O Ferries, where he rose through the ranks from Marine Engineer to Chief Engineer.

Moving shore-side, he then headed to the UAE to join Dubai Drydocks as a Ship Repair Manager. During his time in Dubai, Mr Hart moved from drydocks into the oil and gas industry, where he project managed new-build jack-up oil rigs and offshore wind turbine installation ships with MIS & Lamprell Energy. He also held various other positions such as Commissioning Manager and Group Operations Manager, where he ran three shipyards.

Mr Hart then returned to Dubai Dry Drydocks for a final two-year stint as Director of Project Management & Engineering.

Now in his role as General Manager, based in Appledore, North Devon, Mr Hart will be responsible for the overall day-to-day running of the site. This includes the organisation and logistics for all incoming projects, site safety and security as well as overseeing all monetary aspects.

Tom Hart commented: “Leaving Dubai to move “home” after 20 years was a huge decision but one that I, along with my family, are very excited about. I’m really looking forward to settling in at Appledore, and hope to share some great practices, and skills I have gained from my international experience to build up British shipbuilding and ship repair and be a part of its revitalisation. Building up business, creating work for the local community and increasing the yard’s revenue and margins with a steady flow of work will be my main goal. I am delighted to be appointed General Manager of Harland & Wolff (Appledore) – a yard with a very impressive history. I am looking forward to leading the team there and collectively bringing success to the Harland and Wolff Group.”

Harland & Wolff is a multisite fabrication company, operating in the maritime and offshore industry through five sectors: commercial, cruise and ferry, defence, oil & gas and renewables and six services: technical services, fabrication and construction, decommissioning, repair and maintenance, in–service support and conversion.

Its Belfast yard is one of Europe’s largest heavy engineering facilities, with deep water access, two of Europe’s largest drydocks, ample quayside and vast fabrication halls.

As a result of the acquisition of Harland & Wolff (Appledore) in August 2020, the company has been able to capitalise on opportunities at both ends of the ship-repair and shipbuilding markets where this will be significant demand.

In February 2021, the company acquired the assets of two Scottish based yards along the east and west coasts. Now known as Harland & Wolff (Methil) and Harland & Wolff (Arnish), these facilities will focus on fabrication work within the renewable, oil and gas and defence sectors.

Harland & Wolff is a wholly-owned subsidiary of InfraStrata plc (AIM: INFA), a London Stock Exchange-listed firm focused on strategic infrastructure projects and physical asset life-cycle management.

In addition to Harland & Wolff, it owns the Islandmagee gas storage project, which is expected to provide 25% of the UK’s natural gas storage capacity and to benefit the Northern Irish economy as a whole when completed.

Shipyard Harland & Wolff has launched an apprenticeship scheme that is available across all of their four sites either side of the North Channel and the Irish Sea.

The scheme is applicable to H&W Appledore, Arnish, Belfast and Methil, with the first intake of apprentices arriving on site in September 2021.

Applications will close at 5pm 21 May 2021.

To apply, prospective employees must complete the application form which can be found under the Apprentices page on the Harland & Wolff website. At this time, CVs will not be considered.

For successful candidates, the next stage will include an online assessment followed by an assessment day and interview on site.

We will be looking for team players who are motivated with good communication and practical skills. Prospective apprentices must also have five GCSEs/Standard Grades/Nationals or equivalent including Maths, English, Technical, Craft.

Kelly O’Rourke, Group Director of Human Resources commented: “I am very excited to be launching our first Harland & Wolff multi-site apprenticeship scheme which will be a key aspect of our development into the future.

This scheme uniquely offers apprenticeships across all four Harland & Wolff sites and the opportunity to build a career in a number of industry areas. Our apprentices will work alongside our highly experienced workforce, transferring valuable skills to the next generation.

We are aiming to recruit from local communities, as well as those from a wide range of backgrounds and talents as we seek to develop a diverse workforce.”

Employees according to Belfast Telegraph, have returned to work at Harland and Wolff after the sale of the closure-threatened shipyard.

There were cheers as the remaining staff walked through the gates in Belfast at 9am.

It followed a nine-week campaign which saw a worker-led round-the-clock occupation of the historic site – where Titanic was built – after it was placed into administration over the summer.

Workers claimed victory earlier this week when it was announced that a buyer had been found.

Harland and Wolff has been bought for £6 million by InfraStrata, a London-based company that specialises in energy infrastructure projects.

Steel worker and GMB shop steward Barry Reid described Thursday morning at the shipyard gates as “the day we prayed would come”.

Click this link for further details on this development.