Repurpose Belfast shipyard to make green infrastructure
Thinktank says government should set up arm’s-length company to buy Harland & Wolff site, and repurpose Belfast shipyard to make green infrastructure, which has gone into administration again.
The UK government should set up a company to buy the Harland & Wolff naval shipyard in Belfast as part of a drive to repurpose arms manufacturing towards producing green infrastructure, according to a report.
Shipyard in Belfast
As a first step it is calling on the government to set up a public, off-balance-sheet holding company – similar to GB Energy – to buy the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, which went into administration last month.
The study from the think tank Common Wealth is launching what it describes as a “Lucas Plan for the 21st century” setting out how the UK’s military industrial capacity can be transformed into a supply pipeline for green energy, benefiting workers, communities and the environment.
The UK should repurpose Belfast shipyard and make green infrastructure
At least four of the UK’s naval shipyards – on the Forth, Lagan, Tyne and Mersey – already make products for the offshore wind sector in Northern Ireland.
The report argues the UK government should step in and repurpose the skills of the workforce – including welding, fabrication and engineering – to power the green economy.
Report author Khem Rogaly said Harland & Wolff was just one example of where industrial military capacity can be redirected towards green industry.
Administrators appointed for Harland and Wolff
The administrators appointed for Harland and Wolff have made “no comment” on speculation that the company could be bought over by Spain’s state-owned firm Navantia. Spain’s state-owned shipbuilder Navantia is in talks to buy out Harland & Wolff but this report suggests the government should step in and buy it.
Administrators were appointed by Harland and Wolff late last month, which marked the second time the business has been placed in administration in five years.
The company said between 50-60 immediate redundancies were expected but added that staff employed at its four shipyards are not affected.
