Shipyard and multisite fabrication company Harland & Wolff, has been awarded as the preferred bidder status for the Falkland Islands Port Replacement Project (FIPASS).

The project awarded to the London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed company is focused on strategic infrastructure projects and physical asset lifecycle management, will involve the construction, transportation and installation of four floating pontoons of circa 90 metres each in length.

The project is expected to generate between £100m and £120m revenue over a two-year period commencing in FY24. The company will use it expansive facilities across the UK to provide optionality and de-risk the fabrication of these pontoons.

Above is an artist’s impression of the completed and installed pontoons as well as similar previously constructed platforms from Harland & Wolff which built the six linked barges which make up the existing port facility over forty years ago. This demonstrates the important historical relationship between the shipyard and the Falkland Islands.

John Wood, Chief Executive Officer of Harland & Wolff said:“Following a competitive bid process, I am delighted that the Falkland Islands Government has selected Harland & Wolff as “preferred bidder” for this project. The Company enjoys an excellent relationship and a rich heritage with the Falkland Islands given that Harland and Wolff built the six linked barges which make up the existing port facility forty-five years ago. I look forward to working closely with the Falkland Islands Government and bringing this contract to fruition.”

For a more details on the project click here.

Shipbuilder, Harland & Wolff Group is among the participants in the UK of the National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) which is underway and continues to this Sunday, 11 February.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the Group had sponsored a Maritime UK roundtable held at their head office in London at Lower Thames Street.

NAW provides an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy.

The event yesterday in the UK capital, has helped to celebrate the role that apprenticeships play in developing the skills needed to ensure a competitive and sustainable maritime sector.

The roundtable brought together apprentices from across the sector to share their experiences and included a session with employers, who shared best practice and identified areas for collaboration.

Partners from government also heard directly from maritime employers about how apprenticeship programmes could be better supported by skills delivery bodies.

H&W were especially glad to have welcomed two of their apprentices to take part in the discussion – Ben from Appledore and Victoria from Belfast. Both are apprentice welders and joined Harland & Wolff in September 2023.

The future of the maritime sector is tremendously important to us, and it was wonderful to see so much support for the development and prospects for apprentices who wish to pursue careers within maritime.

Harland & Wolff’s apprenticeship programme was first launched in 2021 and is designed to equip young people leaving school and college with the skills required to forge a rewarding and long-term career in shipbuilding and marine fabrication. Over 150 apprentices have so far taken part in the scheme, with 2024 set to boost those numbers significantly.

Apprenticeship opportunities are available at each of Harland & Wolff’s four manufacturing sites; and in three skill areas – trades, business support and technical. The variety of opportunities on offer aim to provide apprentices with a wide range of transferable skills to navigate the ever-changing maritime industry.

Those joining the scheme could have the opportunity to work on the next generation of Fleet Solid Support ships the company is helping build through to working on green sources of energy such as offshore wind turbine foundations. All with support of skilled tradespeople committed to share their knowledge and skills to future generations of maritime professionals.

Director of Talent, David Honeyman, said, “It’s never been a more exciting time to consider a shipbuilding and engineering apprenticeship with Harland & Wolff. Whether you’re a school or college leaver, our apprenticeships ensure your career gets off to the best possible start. You’ll work alongside and be mentored by experienced colleagues and be encouraged to share your ideas and fresh perspectives. We’ve set course to not only build the finest vessels, but to build a diverse, equitable and inclusive skilled workforce able deliver high standards of performance through trust, creativity and teamwork.”

Matthew Cosby, who joined the scheme in June 2022 said, “I left school not really knowing what I wanted to do next but the opportunity to learn a practical trade and earn money at the same time made me want to apply. Two years later, I’m now training as a Welder and worked on some really interesting projects at the Belfast yard where I’m based.”

Shipyard firm Harland & Wolff based in Belfast has decided not to make a formal bid to buy the passenger ferry and freight-company, which operates to the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall.

In an initial approach by H&W to acquire the 103 year old Isles of Scilly Steamship Company Limited (ISSCL) which serves the archipelago of south-west England, this was “unequivocally rejected” last month.

The Alternative Investment Market (AIM)-listed H&W said it would mull over its options and,under takeover rules, this would take up to 21 December to firm up a bid for the transport business which includes inter-island services.

In a statement issued from the board of Harland & Wolff Group Holdings, it has concluded not to pursue this matter “and accordingly does not intend to make a firm offer for ISSCL”.

To read more of the statement, The Irish News reports of the development. 

Shipyard business Harland & Wolff Group Holdings has announced a 65% rise in revenues for the first half of 2023, however the Belfast based owner at Queen’s Island, still registered a loss of almost £16 million in the six month period.

According to Harland & Wolff’s interim financial results, for the six months ending June 30 2023, the London-listed company with an address at 10 Lower Thames Street, reported revenues of £25.53m. In comparison for the same six months of last year, the figure was £15.41m.

The interim report published by H&W also showed when it came to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), the group with four sites, had made a loss of £15.92m.

The loss cites H&W was mainly due to its investment in headcount in preparation for delivery of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) £1.6 billion contract for three fleet solid support contract (FSS) ships to serve the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). In addition to losses related to other separate contracts.

The MoD’s contract for the trio of FSS newbuilds has been awarded to Spain’s Navantia, which is part the consortium Team Resolute which includes BMT, which won the contract to build the vessels.

H&W will be a sub-contractor in the FSS newbuild project from which it said to expect to earn between £700m and £800m from the deal.

The Irish News has more on the MoD contract and other developments.

Shipyard group Harland & Wolff has opened a new company in Scotland which will service the thriving energy sector in the UK’s energy capital, Aberdeen on the North Sea.

The new subsidiary company, Harland & Wolff Technologies will focus on fuels of the future, batteries, propulsion and system integration, whilst servicing operational assets in the North Sea.

Operating in conjunction with Harland & Wolff’s four delivery centres across the UK (as Afloat highlights: Appledore, Arnish, Belfast, Methil) in addition to working independently and directly with the company’s clients in other shipyards, Harland & Wolff Technologies will provide in-service support to assets that are already operational and are not in any dry-dock.

Richard Davidson has been appointed with immediate effect as Managing Director of the new subsidiary. Richard brings with him over three decades of experience in the energy and maritime markets and has been instrumental in introducing and commercialising new technologies centred around propulsion and fuels. In Richard’s last role with Echandia, he was responsible for developing and monetising large scale battery technologies for the marine market.

New technologies within the marine market are advancing at considerable pace and ensuring the company is at the forefront of this as an early adopter of new technologies is essential. The new subsidiary’s focus on batteries, propulsion, future fuels and systems integration will facilitate progress towards being a successful leader in these areas and make a meaningful contribution to the UK’s Net Zero targets.

Harland & Wolff Technologies is developing a suite of support agreements and joint venture partnerships with equipment manufacturers in order to provide the highest level of service to the company’s clients.

Whilst the Company remains supportive of the UK’s Net Zero targets and the transition to cleaner energy and fuels, it is clear that traditional sources of energy will still have a significant role to play over the next few decades. With the recent Government announcement on a series of new North Sea licensing rounds, the Group has seen an increase in the number of enquiries for offshore electrification projects, new platform construction projects and in-service support. Harland & Wolff will be well placed to address a very sizeable business opportunity across these markets.

John Wood, Group CEO of Harland & Wolff commented: “With projects starting to ramp up and new technologies increasingly being incorporated into the majority of them, the establishment of Harland & Wolff Technologies enables us to be at the forefront of client requirements now and into the future. In the first instance, we will be focusing on in-service support including mechanical, pipework, fabrication and outfitting services.

“Harland & Wolff Technologies’ offering will allow assets to be in operation whilst being serviced by our riding crews. Ultimately, this will reduce the time spent by an asset in a drydock, keep it in continuous operation, and therefore reduce downtime costs, all of which are highly attractive outcomes for our clients.”

Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff Group is to lead a consortium of companies from overseas to develop and build new zero emission tugs suitable for coastal towage duties.

The group based in Queen’s Island, Belfast has entered into heads of terms with Scottish designer Macduff Ship Design, Norway’s Kongsberg for propulsion and vessel control systems and in Sweden where Echandia is a battery and electrical control systems specialist.

The creation of the UK consortium involving the four parties is to achieve the common goal of building a zero emissions harbour and coastal tug. They will measure 25.5m in length, have a breath of 12m and draw a draught of 4.85m.

A bollard pull of 50 tonnes capability has been set as for propulsion the proposed tug is expected to have Azimuth stern drives.

More from the Irish News on the proposed tug project. 

The official completion of the first vessel to be constructed at Harland & Wolff Group's Belfast shipyard in 20 years took place on Monday, as the famous firm unveiled a barge that is to serve in the UK capital.

The barge is the first of 23 such vessels to be built for London-based Cory Group which is one of the UK's leading waste management and recycling companies.

As Afloat previously reported the barge will be used to transport London’s recyclable and non-recyclable waste on the River Thames.

The barge became the the first vessel to be built at the iconic site on Queen’s Island since the ro-ro /cargoship Anvil Point was launched in 2003.

Last month H&W announced that Cory approved the hull of the barge and that it would then proceed to the painting hall.

The newbuild is due to be delivered in several months’ time to the English barge operator which provides a unique river-based infrastructure on the Thames for delivering waste.

Completion of a second barge is soon to finish while work on another two has progressed.

Harland & Wolff said: “Fabrication is now being conducted simultaneously on all barges throughout the production hall with numerous work stations set up and the project team tracking progress on a daily basis with new enterprise resource planning technology.”

The Belfast Telegraph has more and on overall shipbuilding developments.

In south-west England, Torridge District Council has received its largest ever investment of £15.6mn to boost and develop its proposed Clean Maritime Innovation Centre at Middle Dock located next to Harland & Wolff’s Appledore shipyard.

The funding for the Centre was issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in order to establish Torridge and wider northern Devon as a global-leading research and development hub for innovation in clean maritime technology and support industry.

Set to launch in 2025, the centre will display key industry partnerships from the Centre of Future Clean Mobility (CFCM) at the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth offshore renewable and maritime autonomy specialisms, as well as state of the art research. This project is expected to propel the repositioning of Appledore as a region of excellence for clean-propulsion shipbuilding, as advancements away from diesel heighten over the next few years.

Tom Hart, General Manager at Harland & Wolff Appledore added: ‘’We are excited to hear about the approvals for the maritime innovation centre in Appledore. This will bring a vast amount of innovation into the industry, as well as opportunities for Harland & Wolff through research and development into net zero vessels for the future.

He added “this new development will undoubtedly place our Appledore facility in the heart of a green shipbuilding centre of excellence and will generate the technical expertise required to support a new generation of clean vessels as we move to net zero.’’

According to InsiderMedia, the Harland & Wolff Group has reported a three-and-a-half-fold increase in interim revenue and hailed the significant momentum within the shipyard business.

In the six months to 30 June, the strategic energy infrastructure, fabrication, shipbuilding and vessel repairs group reported revenues of £15.4m, up from £4.14m in the same period from 2021. 

Gross profit for the period stood at £3.38m, up from £1.4m and representing a gross margin percentage of 22 per cent.

The business made an operating loss of £14.1m, widened from £8.2m, but said this reflected an increase in the number of personnel and overall overheads as a result of having to service five assets including Belfast, Appledore, Methil, Arnish and London.

Harland & Wolff now has one of the largest fabrication footprints in the country, two of the largest dry docks in Europe and two of the largest specialist fabrication sites in the UK.

Further reading here on the shipyard group. 

Shipbuilder group Harland and Wolff has reported a widened pre-tax loss of £25.5m as expenses swelled during its Covid-19 recovery.

The maritime engineering company is known for the famous Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built, and its parent company InfraStrata plc bought Devon’s Appledore shipyard in August 2020 in a £7m deal.

The group published detailed accounts of its financial performance for the 17 months to December 31, 2021, in its latest annual report.

Revenue swung to £18.5m by the end of last year - up from £1.4m for the 12 months ending July 31, 2020.

During this time, in addition to its purchase of Appledore, the group also took over two steel fabrication sites in Scotland and secured a major contract to build foundations for offshore wind turbines for Italian firm Saipem.

The group said between the middle of 2020 and the end of 2021 its workforce had grown from 105 people to 410.

It added that it had £20m in future contracted revenue. More recently, outside of the reported period, Harland and Wolff has struck two deals - worth £8.5m and £10m - with waste management company Cory Group and its subsidiary Riverside Energy Park to build barges for transporting waste on the River Thames.

More from BusinessLive on the group which secured a £55m contract to refit a former Royal Navy mine-hunting vessel HMS Quorn.