Harland & Wolff Installs 11 New Cranes from Co Down Supplier as Belfast Shipyard Prepares for Naval Build
Harland & Wolff's Belfast shipyard has installed 11 new cranes supplied by County Down firm Walter Watson Ltd in a £1.5 million deal that underscores the yard's commitment to sourcing equipment from local suppliers as it prepares for the construction of three Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The investment is part of a broader £98.5 million modernisation programme under new owner Navantia UK, with the shipyard's workforce expected to grow from its current 450 employees to 1,500 by 2030.
Background
Harland & Wolff's Belfast shipyard is one of the most iconic industrial sites in Ireland, synonymous with the construction of the RMS Titanic and with the industrial heritage of east Belfast. After decades of decline and a series of ownership changes, the yard was acquired by Navantia UK — the British subsidiary of the Spanish shipbuilding giant Navantia — in 2025, following a period of administration that had threatened its closure. The acquisition was accompanied by a commitment to invest in the yard's infrastructure and to pursue major naval shipbuilding contracts.
The most significant of those contracts is the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ship programme, under which Harland & Wolff will integrate and assemble three vessels for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary — the logistics arm of the Royal Navy. The FSS ships, which will carry ammunition, food, and stores to support naval operations, represent the largest shipbuilding contract awarded to a UK yard in a generation, and their construction at Belfast is a major statement of confidence in the yard's capabilities and workforce.
The £98.5 million modernisation programme announced by Navantia UK is designed to prepare the Belfast facility for the demands of the FSS build, including the refurbishment of the iconic Samson and Goliath gantry cranes and the installation of new equipment throughout the yard.
Key Developments
The 11 new cranes installed by Walter Watson Ltd include a 20-metre span semi-Goliath gantry crane capable of lifting 20 tonnes, six electric overhead travelling cranes, and four jib cranes. The equipment, which was commissioned at the end of August 2026, is designed to assist in moving steel and shipbuilding components around the site, particularly in and around the yard's recently expanded 5,000-square-metre fabrication hall. The decision to source the cranes from Walter Watson Ltd — a Castlewellan-based steel specialist with a strong track record in industrial equipment — was described by Navantia UK as a deliberate commitment to the "local-first" procurement principle.
A spokesperson for Navantia UK said the company was "committed to maximising the economic benefit of the FSS programme for Northern Ireland and for the wider UK supply chain." The spokesperson added that the Walter Watson contract was one of several local procurement decisions made as part of the modernisation programme, and that the company expected to announce further local supply chain partnerships in the coming months.
The refurbishment of the Samson and Goliath gantry cranes — the two landmark yellow structures that have defined the Belfast skyline since the late 1960s — is also underway, with a £3 million overhaul designed to restore them to full operational status for the first time in decades. The first vessel blocks for the FSS programme, for the RFA Resurgent, are expected to arrive in Belfast in early 2027.
Why It Matters
The revival of Harland & Wolff as a functioning shipyard is one of the most significant economic stories in Northern Ireland in a generation. The yard's closure would have been a devastating blow to east Belfast and to the broader NI economy, not just in terms of direct employment but in terms of the symbolic and psychological impact of losing one of the most recognisable industrial sites in the world. Its revival under Navantia UK, with a major naval contract and a credible investment programme, represents a genuine turning point. The commitment to local procurement — exemplified by the Walter Watson contract — is also significant, as it suggests that the economic benefits of the FSS programme will extend beyond the shipyard itself to the wider NI supply chain. With the workforce expected to grow to 1,500 by 2030, the yard has the potential to become one of the most important employers in east Belfast and in the broader Belfast metropolitan area.
Local Impact
In east Belfast, where the shipyard is located, the news of the crane installation and the broader modernisation programme has been welcomed by community groups, trade unions, and local politicians. The Unite and GMB unions, which represent workers at the yard, have described the investment as "transformative" and have called on the government to ensure that the FSS programme delivers maximum benefit to the local workforce through apprenticeship schemes and skills training. The Castlewellan area of County Down, where Walter Watson Ltd is based, has also benefited directly from the contract, with the company reporting that it has taken on additional staff to fulfil the order. Belfast City Council has highlighted the Harland & Wolff revival as a centrepiece of its economic development strategy for east Belfast.
What's Next
The first FSS vessel blocks are expected to arrive at the Belfast shipyard in early 2027, marking the beginning of the integration and assembly phase of the programme. Navantia UK has indicated it will announce further local supply chain partnerships in the coming months, and a recruitment drive for skilled shipbuilding workers is expected to begin in early 2027. The refurbishment of the Samson and Goliath cranes is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with both cranes expected to be operational for the FSS build.
