Navantia to Acquire Harland & Wolff Shipyard – Cruise Industry News

Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard has been saved by a deal with Spain-based Navantia shipbuilder, BBC reported on Thursday.

According to the British website, the Spanish facility had been in exclusive negotiations since Harland & Wolff’s holding company fell into administration in October.

The deal is expected to save 1,000 jobs and includes the shipyard’s facilities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

An established player in the cruise drydock business, Navantia operates various facilities in Spain, including a large repair yard in Cádiz.

The UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told BBC that the deal is good for jobs and the country’s national security.

The transaction is expected to secure all Harland & Wolff shipyard and guarantee jobs for years, not months, he continued.

According to BBC, Navantia employs more than 4,000 people and has an annual turnover of about 1.3 billion euros.

As a major player in the cruise drydock business, the facility has recently drydocked ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Windstar, Marella and other brands in 2024.

One of the world’s largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, was among the vessels that underwent a drydock at Navantia’s facility in Cádiz.

According to reports in local media in Spain, Navantia has cruise projects booked through 2028, including various large projects for 2025.

Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas is one of the vessels that is set to undergo a large refit at the facility next year.

Ahead of its summer season in the Western Mediterranean, the 220,000-ton ship is scheduled to see updates to its public areas and staterooms.

As part of a $100-million project, the 2010-built vessel is also set to undergo routine maintenance and technical work.