Harland and Wolff, based out of Belfast, known for building the famed starliner TITANIC, has secured a dry-docking contract for two vessels belonging to two subsidiaries of Carnival Corp. The Cunard’s QUEEN VICTORIA and P&O cruises’ AURORA will stay at the shipyard for 33 days undergoing repairs.
This dry-docking work will be the first that the shipyard has received in over 20 years. Cunard’s QUEEN VICTORIA will be the largest ship dry-docked in a UK shipyard, and P&O cruises’ AURORA will be the first ship ever to dry dock in Belfast. Repair and maintenance of vessels are meant to sustain the yard in between substantial new build contracts. These will also be an excellent opportunity for the yard to demonstrate their expertise and skills to the industry, which will help acquire future agreements.
Harland and Wolff were bought out of bankruptcy by the infrastructure investment firm “InfraStrata” in 2019 for 6 million pounds. The yard intends to diversify as the new business turnaround strategy in various sectors. Harland and Wolff have already made headway into the cruise and ferry, commercial, renewables, and energy markets and intend to acquire a defense contract. With the 150 new build vessel contracts arriving under the UK’s National shipbuilding strategy, the yard must be prepared to compete.
