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Harland and Wolff declares bankruptcy

HarlandWolff
One of the most illustrious names in British shipbuilding looks set to disappear with the filing for insolvency of Belfast’s Harland and Wolff today on Tuesday.

Accountancy firm BDO has been appointed administrator.

Under Norwegian parent company Fred Olsen Energy the shipyard has been carrying out mainly marine engineering projects such as oil rig refurbishment and work on wind turbines of late, employing a workforce of around 130 persons.

The last ship the yard built was a ferry for the Ministry of Defence in 2003, while last year it carried out a GBP50m refurbishment of the cruiseship Azamara Pursuit.

All a far cry from the yard’s glory days back in the early 20th century when it was the world’s leading builder of ocean liners – including the ill-fated Titanic, constructed at the yard between 1909 and 1911.

At its height Harland and Wolff employed more than 30,000 workers.