Harland and Wolff: New shipbuilding hall opens in Belfast

A new manufacturing facility in Belfast will be equipped to build ships to “defend the UK for generations to come,” the owners of Harland and Wolff shipyard have said.

The shipyard marked the official opening of its fabrication hall on Monday, which will assist in the construction of three support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The Belfast shipyard’s giant yellow cranes – nicknamed Samson and Goliath – are also being refurbished as part of a major investment programme.

Navantia UK, which completed its takeover of Harland and Wolff last year, is funding the work as part of a £157m investment in four shipyards across the UK.

Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony, Navantia UK’s chief executive Donato Martinez declared: “Shipbuilding is returning to Belfast.

“We are turning Harland & Wolff into one of the most advanced shipyards in Europe.

“Our new fabrication hall will be equipped to build state-of-the-art ships to serve and defend the UK for generations to come.”

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary shipbuilding contract will support 900 jobs and apprenticeships in Belfast, according to the Press Association (PA).

It added the refurbished, extended hall – which will be known as Resurgent – will add 5,000 sq m of manufacturing space to the Belfast shipyard.

Harland & Wolff was founded in 1861 and was once one of Northern Ireland’s biggest companies, employing 35,000 people at its peak during World War Two.

It has suffered mixed fortunes in recent years, having been placed in administration a number of times despite major government investment.

In 2025, Harland & Wolff was acquired by Navantia UK, a British firm linked to Spain’s state-owned shipbuilder, Navantia.

The takeover deal covered four UK shipyards – Harland and Wolff yards in Belfast, Appledore in Devon, Methil in eastern Scotland and Arnish on the Isle of Lewis.

The Belfast fabrication hall has been described as the centrepiece of Navantia UK’s £157m investment in the four sites.