Order book empty as ferry leaves H&W

When the roll-on roll-off ferry Anvil Point leaves its slips at Belfast today, it could well bring to an end the yard's 150-year history as a major ship builder.

The Harland and Wolff order book is now empty following the completion of the 22,000 tonne ferry for the Andrew Weir shipping company. The situation has looked bleak for a number of years as the manufacturing workforce has been whittled down to less than 100 people.

As a major employer in east Belfast, concerns have been raised over the plight of the company. And last month, a Unionist delegation met with Harland and Wolff representatives to explore ways to attract further business to the ailing yard.

At the meeting former economy minister Sir Reg Empey and party MPs David Burnside and Jeffrey Donaldson offered their help in lobbying for shipbuilding contracts from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). They also sought reassurances from the management that the company was actively pursuing work.

Harland and Wolff has said that it will focus on "an expansion of its technical consultancy services" which would encompass the marine, offshore and structural engineering sectors.

One piece of positive news to emerge of late came when the company benefited as joint bidder for a £2.9 billion contract to build two new massive aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.

While no new jobs are likely to be created at H&W, the 70 or so design jobs at the Belfast shipyard are now secured.

The Belfast shipyard was responsible building some of the world's most famous vessels such as the Titanic, the Royal Yacht Britannia and HMS Belfast – which took part in the sinking of the Scharnhorst and the D-Day landings in World War II.

(GMcG)