Naval Vessel for UK Government to be Largely built in Spain as H&W Shipyard 'Not Ready'

18th September 2025

Jehan Ashmore

Originally the midsection of one of three Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Navy replenishment vessels was to be built in Belfast, Harland & Wolff, but that has now moved to Navantia’s main shipyard at Cádiz, Spain. Credit: Navantia UK-facebook

A naval vessel for the UK government will now be largely built in Spain, not Belfast, because the Harland & Wolff (H&W) shipyard is "not ready", according to a Spanish shipbuilding firm.

Navantia, the Spanish state-owned shipbuilder, which is leading the £1.6 billion Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), confirmed most of the construction of the first of three Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels will now take place in southern Spain.

Originally the midsection of the leadship of the trio of replenishment vessels to serve the RFA was to be built in Belfast, but instead it is to take place in Cádiz.

Donato Martínez, chief executive of Navantia UK which acquired H&W this year, said the move was because H&W's facilities were still "undergoing upgrades". The investment to enhance facilities began after the Queen’s Island yard was rescued after it fell into administration last year.

BBC News has more on the newbuilding development.

Published in Shipyards

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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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.

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