Iconic Name in Ship Building Continues its Recovery With New Agreement

UK – The rebirth of a once iconic name in ship building continues with the news that Harland & Wolff has signed a framework agreement with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for the haul-out, repairs, maintenance, refurbishment and associated works for the RNLI's entire fleet of lifeboats.

Harland & Wolff, backed by that 160 year pedigree, will be responsible for the repairs, maintenance and other works programmes defined by, the even older at 197 years RNLI, for its fleet of lifeboats and other vessels. This agreement will span multiple years and each docking will be priced as a bespoke agreement based on the scope of works required to be performed on each vessel.

The RNLI currently has a fleet of 431 lifeboats and 238 lifeboat stations that will require repairs and maintenance on a regular basis in order to keep them active and ready for deployment and the H&W Appledore yard will be working in conjunction with RNLI's internal team to perform defined works programmes. John Wood, Group CEO of Harland & Wolff, commented:

"I am delighted that Appledore has signed this framework agreement with the RNLI. The RNLI is a much-respected institution, and we are privileged to be hosting its vessels at Appledore. Our capacity, capability and proximity to the RNLI's main centres of activity has been crucial to the award of this contract.

”This, once again, demonstrates that our strategy to be geographically diverse in order to attract local business is sound and bearing fruit. I look forward to a long-standing and growing relationship with the RNLI in the months and years ahead and will be looking at opportunities to support them, not only from Appledore, but also from all our sites across the UK."

These days Harland & Wolff is a multisite fabrication company, operating in the maritime and offshore industry through five markets: commercial, cruise and ferry, defence, energy and renewables and six services: technical services, fabrication and construction, decommissioning, repair and maintenance, in-service support and conversion.

Its Belfast yard remains one of Europe’s largest heavy engineering facilities, with deep water access, two of Europe’s largest drydocks, ample quayside and vast fabrication halls. As a result of the acquisition of Harland & Wolff (Appledore) in August 2020, the company has been able to capitalise on opportunities at both ends of the ship-repair and shipbuilding markets where it anticipates there will be significant demand.

In February 2021, the company acquired the assets of two Scottish-based yards along the east and west coasts. Now known as Harland & Wolff (Methil) and Harland & Wolff (Arnish), these facilities will focus on fabrication work within the renewable, energy and defence sectors.

Photo: Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson Visiting Harland & Wolff (Appledore). L-R: John Wood (Harland & Wolff Group CEO), Boris Johnson (Prime Minister), Clifford Edwards (Maintenance Manager)