Harland & Wolff Group's Belfast shipyard has been awarded a contract to undertake repairs on a semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel, the MV Sun Shine.

The vessel built in 2009, is owned by the South Korean-based Pan Ocean Group and this is the first of its kind to be drydocked in the company’s main Building Dock in Belfast.

Among the project cargoes that the ship can undertake, Afloat highlights is the transportation of offshore wind components, machinery, modules, to tugboats, drillships, barges and ocean platforms.

The contract value according to Harland & Wolff from the Seoul based client, is estimated to be £0.80 million, and the MV Sun Shine will enter the drydock on 7 August 2023 for a period of approximately 21 days.

The heavy-lift ship will undergo a series of repairs including seal changes, steelworks and painting.

Commenting on the contract, John Wood, Group CEO of Harland & Wolff said: “We are delighted to have signed this contract with Pan Ocean and we look forward to working on the Sun Shine and redelivering it to the client, on time and on budget.

“Our reputation and recognition for handling large complex vessels in Belfast is growing globally and this bodes well for a number of similar outstanding bids that we have made.

“We expect the Belfast yard to be busy over the course of the summer and it is pleasing to see the momentum that is developing in the yard.”