Harland & Wolff starts shipyard revamp ahead of FSS construction

Work has begun revamping Harland & Wolff’s yard in Belfast to support construction of a new class of three Fleet Solid Support ships for the UK Royal Navy. (Harland & Wolff)

Harland & Wolff has announced the start of work to upgrade the existing fabrication halls at its Belfast shipyard to support the construction of the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) future Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships.

The three FSS vessels will be delivered under a GBP1.6 billion (USD1.94 billion) contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence to the Team Resolute consortium – led by prime contractor Navantia UK, a subsidiary of Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia, and including Harland & Wolff and BMT – in January 2023.

Construction of the new ships is planned to begin in 2025, with final assembly of all three ships set to take place at Harland & Wolff’s Belfast yard.