Spanish Shipbuilder Navantia Acquires Harland & Wolff, Securing 1,000 UK Jobs

The deal, subject to regulatory approval, safeguards four shipyards and strengthens UK shipbuilding and defense capabilities.

Navantia, a state-owned Spanish company, has agreed to purchase Harland & Wolff, including its shipyards in Belfast, Scotland, and England, for a reported £70 million.
The acquisition guarantees approximately 1,000 jobs across the UK, including 350 positions at Scottish sites Methil and Arnish, with potential for workforce expansion.
The UK government has adjusted the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) contract, worth £1.6 billion, to ensure Navantia can deliver three Royal Navy support ships as planned.
Harland & Wolff, known for building the Titanic, faced financial challenges and entered administration in September for the second time in five years.
The deal is seen as a boost to UK-EU industrial cooperation post-Brexit, with potential benefits for offshore wind projects and defense partnerships.