Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Belfast City Council Calls for Harland & Wolff Shipyard Support

3rd August 2019
The chamber at Belfast City Council where a special meeting was held yesterday on a motion calling on the UK government to support the shipyard (see link below to view a webcast) The chamber at Belfast City Council where a special meeting was held yesterday on a motion calling on the UK government to support the shipyard (see link below to view a webcast) Credit: BCC-facebook

A motion by Belfast City Council has been passed to call on the UK government to support Harland and Wolff as it faces administration.

As BBC News reports, the council is seeking an urgent meeting with the Northern Ireland secretary to discuss the future of the shipyard.

Harland and Wolff is at risk of closure after its parent company ran into severe financial problems.

It is understood the city shipyard could go into administration as early as Monday, putting 123 jobs at risk.

SDLP councillor Brian Heading said he would have a conference call with Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith on Saturday.

At Friday's emergency meeting of Belfast City Council there was cross-party support for the workers and their families, many of whom were seated in the public gallery.

For more on the week-long campaign by the shipyard workers click here

In addition click to view a webcast of the motion held in the city hall chamber. 

Published in Belfast Lough
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

Email The Author

Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button