Navantia UK’s decision to source 11 new cranes from County Down supplier Walter Watson is putting local procurement at the centre of the £98.5 million modernisation of Harland & Wolff’s Belfast shipyard.

The £1.5 million crane package supports preparations for construction of three Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, while demonstrating how major industrial programmes can create opportunities for specialist regional suppliers. Navantia UK confirmed the cranes form part of the wider investment in the Belfast facility.

Walter Watson is a family-owned structural steel and industrial crane specialist based in Castlewellan, County Down. Established in 1967, the company manufactured and tested all 11 cranes at its local facility before transporting them to Belfast for installation. The Irish News also reported that the supplier has returned to significant growth, highlighting the wider industrial capability being retained within Northern Ireland.

The equipment includes six electric overhead travelling cranes, four jib cranes and a 20-metre-span semi-Goliath gantry crane capable of lifting 20 tonnes. The cranes incorporate radio controls, anti-collision technology and digital load indication, linking procurement decisions directly with operational performance and workplace safety.

For Navantia UK, the procurement reflects a stated local-first approach, with the company seeking to use UK suppliers where technically and commercially feasible. The strategy is intended to ensure that investment associated with the Fleet Solid Support programme generates wider economic benefits across the region.

The cranes are being installed alongside a 5,000-square-metre extension to the fabrication hall, as well as a new panel line, plasma-cutting equipment, digital design tools and improvements to buildings and infrastructure. Together, these investments are transforming the facilities and equipment available to the Belfast shipbuilding operation.

The procurement also demonstrates the importance of specialist suppliers within large-scale capital programmes. Rather than viewing equipment purchasing as an isolated transaction, local sourcing can bring manufacturing expertise, installation capability, technical knowledge and ongoing operational support closer to the facility.

For facilities and procurement teams, the Belfast project provides a practical example of how investment decisions can combine supply-chain resilience with modernisation and safer working environments. The value of a major industrial procurement programme can therefore extend beyond the equipment itself, supporting local capability while strengthening the infrastructure required for future operations.

For the sector, the development highlights the role procurement can play in building stronger regional supply chains. As major infrastructure and industrial projects increasingly seek resilient sources of specialist equipment, local suppliers with the manufacturing, engineering and installation capabilities to meet demanding specifications can become important partners in long-term facility development.

Source: Belfast News Letter / Navantia UK / The Irish News