Defence Committee tours Belfast yard ready to build new naval ships under Defence Investment Plan
Navantia UK has welcomed MPs from the House of Commons Defence Committee to its Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast where the company is building three supply ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary under the £1.6 billion Fleet Solid Support (FSS) contract.
The visit gave the influential cross-party committee an opportunity to see first-hand a programme that is progressing on time and on budget, while bringing state of the art technology, highly skilled jobs and apprenticeships to Northern Ireland.
MPs from the committee toured the shipyard, met apprentices and members of the workforce and viewed new facilities – including an expanded fabrication hall, a mechanised panel line and robotic cutting equipment. They were shown Harland & Wolff’s iconic yellow Samson & Goliath cranes, which were recently maintained and refurbished.
Following the tour, the parliamentarians were briefed by Navantia UK on the FSS programme, under which three supply vessels are being built for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Each ship is 39,000 tonnes and 215 metres long – the length of two World Cup football pitches.
Tan Dhesi MP, Chair of the Defence Committee, said:
“As Members of the Defence Committee, we understand the importance of Northern Ireland’s defence industry to the defence and security of the UK. That’s why we were so determined to visit Northern Ireland and see the work undertaken here.”
“It was fantastic to tour Belfast’s iconic Harland and Wolff shipyard. This historic yard has played a critical role in UK defence, and I’m sure will continue to do so, through the Fleet Solid Support programme.”
“Our visit was an opportunity to hold discussions with Navantia about the progress of the Fleet Solid Support programme and the future of shipbuilding in Northern Ireland.”
Donato Martínez, CEO of Navantia UK, said:
“The Fleet Solid Support programme has breathed new life into Harland & Wolff. We’re transforming the yard into one of the most modern shipbuilding facilities in Europe. In doing so, we’re creating skilled jobs and generating work for businesses, large and small, across Northern Ireland.
“That’s the benefit, on the ground, that a big defence contract can deliver. It’s a privilege to demonstrate that to an influential group of MPs.
“It’s important that this doesn’t end here. The Fleet Solid Support programme can’t be a one-off – to ensure we all maximise the benefit of the significant investment we have made and deliver sustained prosperity to the local community.”
Navantia UK is committed to working with firms close to its yards. In Northern Ireland, Cleary Contracting of Antrim holds a civil works contract worth approximately £10 million, supporting around 50 jobs and representing close to a fifth of that company’s annual turnover. Balloo Hire in Belfast and Wilson Utilities of Lisburn are among other local firms engaged under the programme.
Employment across Navantia UK’s four shipyards – Appledore, Arnish, Belfast and Methil – stands at 1,200, with 250 jobs created since acquisition in January 2025. Of those new jobs, 165 are in Belfast. Navantia UK was recently named as one of the UK’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for the second year in a row.
Navantia UK stands ready to work with the Ministry of Defence on further naval shipbuilding programmes when the Defence Investment Plan is published.
