The owner of a major fabrication yard in Scotland has highlighted investment, workforce growth and a “significant step forward” at the site as it hailed today’s christening of the Seahorse transport barge as a UK shipbuilding programme milestone.
It declared the christening of this vessel marked a “major milestone in the delivery of the Ministry of Defence’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme”.
Since state-owned Spanish group Navantia acquired the fabrication yard at Methil in Fife in January last year, the headcount at the site has grown from 180 to 260.
Navantia UK revealed it is on a recruitment drive to fill a further 110 roles at Methil.
Included in this is recruitment of 15 apprentices, to join the existing class of 54 apprentices at Methil.
Navantia UK had last summer revealed hopes of at least doubling the workforce at Methil to between 350 and 400 within the next two or three years.
And it highlighted a possibility then that the headcount could rise as high as 600, depending on the work that came into the yard.
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Navantia bought the Methil operation and a fabrication yard at Arnish on the Isle of Lewis in January last year following Harland & Wolff’s fall into administration. The acquisition also included the Harland & Wolff yards in Belfast and at Appledore in Devon.
The £8 million, purpose-built, Seahorse vessel will be loaded out in the coming days as it begins operations, Navantia UK noted.
It declared the Seahorse will play a critical role in enabling the construction of the Royal Navy’s three FSS ships, transporting ship blocks between Navantia UK’s Appledore and Belfast facilities.
Navantia UK said: “At 85 metres long and 25 metres wide, and weighing approximately 1,400 tonnes, the vessel has been designed for long-term use across future defence programmes. It reflects a modern, distributed shipbuilding model that strengthens UK sovereign industrial capability and resilience.”
It added that the project forms part of its “wider activity across Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, delivering the FSS programme through a UK-wide industrial network”, adding: “This approach supports the UK Government’s ambition to position defence as an engine for growth, driving investment, skills and economic opportunity across the country.”
Navantia UK has invested £26.7 million in upgrading the Methil yard - part of an overall investment of £157m across the group’s four UK facilities.
Improvements include new plasma cutting equipment and machinery, lifting systems and transporters, welfare and office improvements, and other site upgrades, it noted.
Navantia UK said: “The christening of Navantia UK Seahorse marks a significant step forward for Methil, reinforcing its role in the UK’s defence industrial landscape and supporting a pipeline of skilled jobs and future opportunities.
“By integrating its proven programme management and advanced digital tools into its UK operations, Navantia is ensuring robust delivery and long-term success for the Methil site.”
Navantia UK observed the FSS ships will “provide vital logistical support to the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, supplying stores and ammunition at sea and ensuring operational readiness”.
It added: “As prime contractor, Navantia UK is delivering the programme through a UK-wide network, with final integration taking place in Belfast.”
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