Spanish state-owned firm Navantia has agreed a deal rescue collapsed British shipbuilder Harland & Wolff. The º£½ÇÊÓÆµ company, which is famed for building the Titanic and has sites in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Devon, fell into administration in September.
Under the terms of the agreement, more than 1,000 jobs will be saved as well as Harland & Wolff's assets which include its yards.
It is understood the deal with Navantia was agreed after the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ government offered better terms on a £1.6bn contract to build a trio of Royal Navy ships, the FT reports. As Business Live understands, the vessels could be built at Harland & Wolff's Appledore shipyard in Devon and Belfast, and at Navantia’s Puerto Real site in Cádiz, before being assembled in Northern Ireland.
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Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds would not divulge how much extra cash would be pumped into the contract but said it was a good deal for taxpayers, workers at H&W’s shipyards and national security. He told the PA news agency: “This is a huge vote of confidence in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ. It is good for jobs, it’s good for national security, and it’s good for all parts of the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ.
“This was a huge problem that we inherited walking into office. We have been able to broker a solution that is not just a solution to the short-term problem, but one in the best long-term interests of the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ.”
Harland & Wolff's collapse earlier this year was its second in four years, after it was rescued by London-based energy firm Infrastrata for £6m in 2019.
Last month, it was revealed the historic º£½ÇÊÓÆµ shipbuilder's ill-fated West of England ferry venture amassed debts of £3m before succumbing to administration.
Scilly Ferries was established despite setbacks including financial turmoil and a delayed launch, ultimately ceasing operations without completing a single trip.
Harland & Wolff had debts of £160m when it collapsed. According to administrators Teneo, at the time of their appointment, neither the group nor its lender could provide long-term funding to cover the company's ongoing expenses.