Harland & Wolff modernisation reaches milestone as Navantia UK and Ministry of Defence attend Factory Acceptance Tests in Finland
The recapitalisation of Harland & Wolff and delivery of the UK’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme took a major step forward today as Navantia UK and the Ministry of Defence attended the first Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of advanced panel line equipment being built in Finland.
The delegation – led by Alan Haley, Harland & Wolff Recapitalisation Manager for Navantia UK, and joined by Alex du Pré, FSS Project Leader, UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) – witnessed the successful testing of Pemamek’s PEMA Vision Robotic Welding Portals. These systems will form the backbone of a new automated panel line at the Belfast shipyard, enabling faster, more accurate and more efficient shipbuilding.
The panel line is central to the modernisation of Harland & Wolff, supported by the UK Government through the FSS contract. Once installed, it will transform productivity and quality, ensuring the Belfast shipyard can deliver the three FSS ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and compete for future programmes.
Navantia UK is investing £115 million across its four UK yards, including £90 million for Belfast. Navantia UK acquired the yards in January 2025, securing over 1,000 skilled jobs across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Alan Haley, Harland & Wolff Recapitalisation Manager, Navantia UK, said: “This is a milestone moment for Harland & Wolff and for the FSS programme. The panel line being built for us by Pemamek is at the cutting edge of global shipbuilding technology. By bringing it to Belfast, we are equipping the yard with the capability to deliver FSS and to re-establish itself as one of the most advanced and competitive shipbuilding facilities in the UK.”
Alex du Pré, FSS Project Leader, UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), added: “We are pleased to have reached this pivotal milestone in the Fleet Solid Support programme. Our team’s collaboration with Navantia UK has helped to ensure these advanced robotic welding systems meet the exacting standards required for building Royal Navy support ships that are fit for the future. This investment will benefit communities for generations to come and that is something the whole team can be proud of.”
Pemamek, the Finnish world leader in shipyard automation, is manufacturing the fully mechanised, digitally integrated panel line. The system incorporates advanced robotics, automated material handling and precision welding technology to create consistent, defect-free panels at high throughput rates. This equipment represents a key component of Navantia’s broader ‘Shipyard 5.0’ approach, which aims to integrate AI-driven quality control systems and digital twin capabilities across the yard’s operations to minimise time to delivery whilst maximising quality.
Jukka Rantala, Vice President, Key Accounts, Pemamek, said: ”We are proud to support Navantia UK’s Belfast Shipyard modernization with the delivery of our state-of-the-art flat panel and block line, profile processing line, T-beam fabrication line, and robotic subassembly line. Designed for a Shipyard 4.0 digital environment, these advanced solutions will enable Navantia UK to achieve ambitious production targets today and in the future. Our cooperation with the Navantia Group began in the 1990s, and over the years this trusted partnership has grown through multiple deliveries to facilities across Spain and beyond.
By introducing this capability, Harland & Wolff is moving firmly into the era of Shipyard 5.0 – combining its historic heritage with state-of-the-art technology to secure skilled jobs, support digital upskilling, and position Northern Ireland as a centre of excellence for naval shipbuilding.
The panel line will be housed within an extended fabrication hall, with a 5,000-square-metre expansion to the existing facilities currently under construction and scheduled for completion in Q1 2026. The expanded facility will enable concurrent build programmes and significantly increase the yard’s capacity for complex naval construction.
The factory acceptance test follows the recent arrival of 55 new apprentices who will work on the FSS programme, bringing Navantia UK’s total apprentice cohort to 170. Working alongside the existing skilled workforce, these apprentices will be integral to delivering the FSS programme. As a Sunday Times Top 100 UK apprenticeships employer, Navantia UK plans to create 500 additional apprenticeships by 2030, demonstrating its long-term commitment to building the UK’s future shipbuilding workforce.
