On 30th October 2024, Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford and a member of the Democratic Unionist Party, directed a question to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding potential discussions to support Harland and Wolff in resuming ship manufacturing for the Royal Navy.
Harland and Wolff, an iconic name in British shipbuilding, is a subcontractor within Team Resolute, the consortium tasked with delivering Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Navy.
Responding to the question, Maria Eagle, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, outlined the government’s stance:
“Harland & Wolff Plc, a major sub-contractor and a member of Team Resolute, the consortium delivering the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Navy, announced on 16 September 2024 that they would be winding down its non-core operations, but the four shipyards will continue to operate.”
Eagle acknowledged that Harland & Wolff had recently scaled back non-core operations due to financial pressures but assured that its core shipyard operations would persist. She underscored the government’s view on the matter, saying:
“Following a review of their financial situation, the Government is clear that the market is best placed to address the challenges the company is facing. We continue to work extensively with all parties to find an outcome for the company that continues to deliver shipbuilding and manufacturing in the UK.”
In her response, Eagle also confirmed that the MoD remains focused on ensuring the success of the FSS programme. The department has been working closely with Navantia UK, the primary contractor for the project, to monitor and support Harland and Wolff’s role in the contract:
“The successful delivery of the FSS programme remains a priority. There is extensive engagement with Navantia UK as the Prime Contractor to understand what steps the company is taking to ensure delivery of the FSS contract and management of its supply chain.”
Hmm. If words alone were enough to move mountains then this mountain should be moving surely… It is all well and good to say we want to buy these ships off you, but if you have already said that you don’t think the company is stable enough to back financially then I think the market has every right to be sceptical. Hopefully, one of the interested companies (preferably a UK company) will step in and back H&W and work can crack on with the FSS ships. Of course, crewing will need to be sorted out before these ships are completed… Read more »
OT…Reading that Reaction Engines has gone into administration.
If they’re that advanced with their SABRE tech and involvement with our Hypersonic missile aspirations when why have they not been taken over by HMG like Sheffield Forgemasters?
If it’s major shareholders BAE and Rolls Royce weren’t willing to put more money into the company, does it make sense for the U.K. Government?
No.
No idea why this govt is so scared to invest in govt owned enterprises, the french etc have no problem doing it.
RE has high quality tech in intercoolers and related technologies, just turn it into a Royal Reseach Lab or something if all else fails!
MoD bought Forgemasters because they were sick of the govts inability to manage the steel industry, and now its thriving, one of the few places that can do reactor forging, they’re primed to do the new barrel forging, and all manner of state of the art facilities and research.
This is when China buys or steals the tech and takes the lead, as they are doing with everything the west dithers about, like Thorium nuclear reactors to name but one