UK feeling the maritime pressure at home and abroad
With Northern Ireland-based shipbuilders Harland and Wolff (H&W) entering administration, the notion of a revitalised UK naval manufacturing capability has taken another blow following the announcement earlier in the year of the drawdown and closure of Babcock’s Appledore facility.
Shipbuilding has formed a central theme around UK defence commentary for a number of years, particularly with the apparent need to rejuvenate the sector as outlined in Sir John Parker’s report to the UK government in 2016, much of which was endorsed by Whitehall.
This report suggested shipyards that had not had much in the way of work from the UK
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