Govt Urged To Save H&W Shipyard

Northern Ireland's politicians have backed calls for Westminster intervention to save one of Belfast's most iconic manufacturers.

Unions say the Harland and Wolff shipyard faces imminent closure unless a new buyer is found, with administrators expected to arrive on Monday.

The firm's Norwegian owners put the shipyard up for sale last year amid ongoing financial problems. Workers took control of the site on Monday and continued their "Save our Shipyard" protests through the night in a plea for intervention to save 130 job roles at the site.

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NI Secretary of State Julian Smith attend Stormont today for an update on the talks process, shipyard workers have gathered outside as they continue their protest.

Ulster Unionist MLAs attended a rally at the east Belfast shipyard on Tuesday in a show of solidarity with the employees whose livelihoods hang in the balance. Speaking after the event, local MLA Andy Allen said: "In the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, we want the Prime Minister and his Government to use whatever influence they can to save the livelihoods of the workers and their families.

"The UK needs strategic shipbuilding and fabrication capacity which makes a very strong case for retaining the shipyard. It is in our country's long term strategic interests to do all that we can to ensure that Harland & Wolff survives. We cannot afford to allow the shipyard or its facilities to go to the wall."

Unions are calling for the shipyard to be renationalised, however the UK Government has said the crisis at Harland and Wolff is "ultimately a commercial issue".

However calls for the government to intervene at the eleventh hour and save an important part of Belfast's history continue.

SDLP Business Spokesperson Pat Catney said state intervention is needed to secure the short term future of the business to bide time for management to find a solution. The Lagan Valley MLA commented: "The sun hasn't set on Harland and Wolff or its loyal and highly skilled workforce yet. It is critical, however, that government intervenes to provide minor short term support that will buy valuable time for management to prepare a solid plan for longer term viability at the historic site.

"The energy, passion and determination of the workers and their trade union representatives is immense. They're a credit to their shipyard, to their industry and to their city. We can't afford to lose more high quality jobs in manufacturing."

The call for financial support in the interim was echoed by the Alliance party. Stephen Farry MLA said the investment needed would be relatively small, but would bring hope of a long-term solution.

He said: "A short-term support of less than £1 million can buy some time for other avenues to be properly explored. Political level decisions need to be taken. It would have been preferable if a Northern Ireland Executive was in place but without it, we need to look to the UK Government.

"There is more at stake here than a solely commercial consideration. Harland and Wolff has played a huge role in placing Northern Ireland on the international map. The implications for its closure could have much wider repercussions in calling into question Northern Ireland's economic image," the north Down MLA concluded.



(JG/CM)