Harland & Wolff: Spanish shipbuilder Navantia expected to announce deal
Spanish firm expected to announce Harland & Wolff deal
PA Media Navantia already has a business relationship with Harland and Wolff
Spain's state-owned shipbuilder is expected to confirm on Thursday that it is buying Harland and Wolff, the Belfast shipyard best known for Titanic. Navantia has been in exclusive negotiations since October after Harland and Wolff's holding company fell into administration. The deal is also expected to include Harland and Wolff's facilities in Scotland and England. Navantia already has a business relationship with the company.
Getty Images Navantia's main shipyard is at Cadiz in southern Spain
It is the main contractor on a project to build three support ships for the Royal Navy with Harland and Wolff acting as UK subcontractor. The government may announce that it is improving the terms of that deal to reflect increased costs. The company employs a core staff of about 1,200 in Belfast, Appledore in England and Methil and Arnish in Scotland. Navantia's main shipyard is at Cadiz in southern Spain. It employs more than 4,000 people and has an annual turnover of about ?1.3bn (?835m).
What is the history of Harland & Wolff?
Getty Images In 2019, H&W's then Norwegian owners withdrew financial support
Harland and Wolff was founded in 1861 by Yorkshireman Edward Harland and his German business partner, Gustav Wolff. By the early 20th Century, Harland and Wolff dominated global shipbuilding and had become the most prolific builder of ocean liners in the world. However, in the period since World War Two it has lurched from crisis to crisis and was under UK state control from 1977 to 1989. In 2019, its then Norwegian owners withdrew financial support and the business fell into insolvency, having not built a ship in a generation.
Getty Images The government may announce an improved deal to reflect increased costs
