Navantia says it plans to invest around £5 million on the Arnish yard on Lewis in the short term.
The new owners of the yard says the money will be targetted at upgrading equipment at the site and improving the yard in a bid to attract more contracts.
The Spanish company will continue the yard’s work in the energy sector and aims to compete for tenders in renewables.
A delegation of Navantia’s senior management team from Navantia and its British subsidiary, Navantia UK visited the Arnish yard this morning. The meet with the local workforce and also held a meeting with representatives from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and HIE.
Donato Martínez, Navantia’s chief technology and strategy officer, outlined plans to improve the yard and create more jobs.
He also wants to see more younger people taken on.
Today’s visit followed the firm’s recent completion of Harland & Wolff’s acquisition. The team has toured all four sites – Belfast, Appledore, Methil and Arnish – in recent days.
Navantia’s chairman, Ricardo Domínguez, said this marks the “beginning of our shared journey.
“We are not just combining two companies; we are building a formidable team.”
Investment across the four sites is expected to fund “cutting-edge facilities, technology
and training, underpinned by a comprehensive business plan” to integrate these facilities
into the UK’s industrial and defence ecosystem.
First Minister John Swinney welcomes the acquisition by Navantia.
He said: “The yards at Methil and Arnish have both got really formidable reputations and have contributed so much to the development of the industrial story of Scotland.”
He says the takeover comes at a “really timely moment” because Scotland is “just on the brink of realising the most spectacular offshore energy opportunity that we could imagine, and that will be realised as a consequence of the investments being made by the Scottish Government.”
Navantia’s plans offers the prospect of “real confidence about the delivery of the green industrial revolution that the Scottish Government is so committed to delivering.”
UK industry minister Sarah Jones said the UK Government was determined not to let
Harland & Wolff collapse and securing a deal with Nevantia offers gives long-term
security for the workforce.
Navantia pledges £5 million investment for Arnish yard
6 February 2025
