H&W Gets RoRo Contract
Harland and Wolff signed a deal with the British Defense Ministry to build two RoRo ferries. The two 14,200 dwt vessels are scheduled for delivery in October 2002 and January 2003. Harland and Wolff, which is majority owned by Norwegian group Fred Olsen Energy, did not specify the value of the deal. "Harland and Wolff has today been offered a singular opportunity to rebuild and revitalise shipbuilding in Belfast. It is an opportunity which we fully intend to grasp," CEO Brynjulv Mugaas said. - (Reuters)
Loss Of Contract Deals Blow To N. Ireland Economy
Northern Ireland's economy suffered a blow when the shipyard that built the Titanic lost its bid to build a new Queen Mary cruise liner. The loss to a French yard threatened the survival of Harland and Wolff, the shipyard that once employed 30,000 workers and symbolized Northern Ireland's industrial prowess. Today it is a shadow of its former self with 1,745 workers. "The impact that this has on the ability of the UK shipbuilding industry to compete for projects is now clear and needs to be urgently addressed if there is to be a future for the industry in the United Kingdom," he said. British Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected the criticism. "We're very disappointed at the decision. But it's a decision by a commercial company.