Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, energy and maritime ambitions.
Established in 2022 and expanded through the 2025 acquisition of Harland & Wolff, we employ more than 1,200 people and are investing over £157 million to modernise our facilities.
We are building the Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as prime contractor, fabricating for the offshore energy sector, and helping to regenerate shipbuilding communities across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
We are part of Navantia, one of the world’s leading naval technology companies with over 300 years of shipbuilding heritage. That gives our customers the assurance of proven delivery and global engineering expertise, built on British industrial roots that stretch back to 1855.
Our Team
Navantia UK employs more than 1,200 people across our yards in Appledore, Arnish, Belfast and Methil, with programme, engineering and corporate teams based in Bristol and London. Our workforce covers every discipline needed to deliver complex programmes for defence, energy and commercial customers.
That means platers, welders, pipefitters, electricians and outfitters, whether they are building ships, fabricating blocks or producing heavy steel structures for the offshore energy sector. Behind them sit naval architects, design and digital engineers, planners, and the commercial, procurement and programme teams that keep those projects on schedule. Many of our people are time-served tradespeople whose skills have been built over decades in these yards, and their experience is now matched with new capability in digital engineering, from 3D design and digital twins to robotic welding and real-time production monitoring, as we transform our facilities into some of the most advanced in Europe. We invest in our people at every stage of their careers, from apprenticeships and trade training through to management and leadership development.
Board of directors
Our Executive Committee brings together experience from industrial sectors, providing strategic leadership for Navantia UK. The team is responsible for growth, operational performance and delivery across our sites in Appledore, Arnish, Belfast and Methil, supporting the UK’s sovereign industrial capability and future shipbuilding ambitions.
Our History
From its origins in Spain’s naval history to its strategic acquisition of Harland & Wolff, Navantia UK continues to shape the future of global shipbuilding, blending tradition with technological innovation for a stronger, more resilient maritime presence.
2026 — One year on
Navantia UK’s investment across sites has risen to £157 million upgrading infrastructure, facilities and capability to strengthen sovereign industrial capability. The Fleet Solid Support programme continues to progress at pace, marked by key milestones including the completion of the ‘Seahorse’ barge and the Critical Design Review.
2025 — Acquisition of Harland & Wolff
Navantia UK acquires Harland & Wolff, merging the storied heritage of Belfast’s iconic shipyard with Navantia’s cutting-edge naval engineering. This acquisition marks a bold expansion into the UK market, ensuring a shared legacy of shipbuilding endures and thrives in the modern era.
2023 — Winning the FSS Contract
In January 2023, Navantia UK is awarded a £1.6 billion Ministry of Defence contract to build three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) vessels for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. These ships will provide crucial munitions, stores, and provisions to the Royal Navy's fleet, reinforcing its operational reach and sustainability on global missions. This milestone solidifies Navantia UK's influence in major defence projects and strengthens its partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence.
2005 — The Birth of Navantia
Navantia is formally established as a company, merging two traditions of Spanish shipbuilding into a strategic defence powerhouse. The company inherits centuries of naval engineering expertise, positioning itself as a leader in both military and civil shipbuilding.
1717 — The Founding of Real Arsenal de la Carraca
Navantia’s roots trace back to 1717, when Quartermaster General José Patiño established Spain's first modern shipyard: the Real Arsenal de la Carraca. This pioneering facility marked the beginning of Spain’s naval dominance, setting the stage for centuries of maritime innovation.
Our STEADY values
Service: Work as one to support our customers and communities.
Trust: Be reliable, upright, honest, accountable and transparent.
Excellence: Pursue excellence through continuous improvement, innovation and high standards in a safe manner.
Agility: Adapt quickly and efficiently to change.
Dedication: Stay committed to our ethical standards and goals.
You: Value and empower one another as the foundation of our success.
