The recapitalisation of
Harland & Wolff and delivery of the UK’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme recently saw a delegation from
Navantia UK and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) attend the first factory acceptance test (FAT) of panel line equipment being built by
Pemamek, in Finland.
The delegation — led by Alan Haley (Harland & Wolff recapitalisation manager for Navantia UK, the prime contractor for the FSS programme) and joined by Alex du Pré (FSS Project Leader, UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) — saw the successful testing of Pemamek’s ‘PEMA Vision Robotic Welding Portals’, which will form the backbone of a new automated panel line at Harland & Wolff’s Belfast shipyard.
The panel line is central to the modernisation of Harland & Wolff, a modernisation being supported by the UK Government through the FSS contract. Once installed, it will transform productivity and quality, ensuring the Belfast shipyard can deliver the three FSS ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and compete for future programmes.
Navantia UK is investing £115 million in its four UK yards, including £90 million at the Belfast site. Navantia UK acquired the yards in January 2025, securing over 1,000 skilled jobs throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Milestone momentMr Haley said: “This is a milestone moment for Harland & Wolff and for the FSS programme. The panel line being built for us by Pemamek is at the cutting edge of global shipbuilding technology. By bringing it to Belfast, we are equipping the yard with the ability to deliver FSS and to re-establish itself as one of the most advanced and competitive shipbuilding facilities in the UK.”
Pemamek, the Finnish manufacturer of shipyard automation, says the system it is providing incorporates robotics, automated material-handling, and precision welding technology will provide consistent, defect-free panels at high throughput rates. This equipment is also a key component of Navantia’s ‘Shipyard 5.0’ approach, which aims to integrate AI-driven quality control systems and digital twin capabilities to minimise lead times while maximising quality.
The factory acceptance test follows the recent arrival of 55 new apprentices who will work on the FSS programme, bringing Navantia UK’s total apprentice cohort to 170; the company also says it plans to create 500 additional apprenticeships by 2030.