Daily Newsletter

20 November 2023

Daily Newsletter

20 November 2023

Signal: Harland & Wolff signs MoU with Austal Australia

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) could see Austal patrol vessel design such as the Cape class put forward for UK maritime security entities including Border Force.

Richard Thomas November 20 2023

Austal Australia has entered into an MoU with UK shipbuilder and maritime service provider Harland & Wolff Group to pursue shipbuilding opportunities in the UK.

The MoU, signed at the 2023 Indo Pacific Maritime Exposition in Sydney recently, includes the transfer of technology, skills and shipyard capabilities required to build the next generation of patrol vessels for the UK for maritime security agencies, stated an Austal release published on 16 November.

Both parties have identified opportunities in the UK market, including the Border Force vessel replacement programme, and will work jointly in a non-exclusive partnership on such opportunities, the released stated.

Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said the MOU was the first step towards winning new business in the UK, collaborating with Harland & Wolff, an established manufacturing, services and support company operating in the maritime defence industry.

“Harland & Wolff is an ideal partner for Austal in the pursuit of defence opportunities in the United Kingdom with the facilities, expertise and capabilities to effectively pursue and help deliver new vessels for organisations such as the UK Border Force,” said Austal CEO Paddy Gregg.

John Wood, Group CEO of Harland & Wolff, said: “As we embark on the next phase of the company’s growth and development, we will be partnering with Austal not only for the transfer of technology to build aluminium vessels but to also join hands with them when bidding for contracts.”

Might Austal's Cape class replace current Stan 4207s in UK Border Force?

UK Border Force operates a fleet of five patrol vessels, including four Stan 4207-type craft – introduced in the early 2000s –  that are utilised by maritime security agencies around the world. At 42m long, the current Seeker-class patrol vessels are smaller than Austal’s Cape-class design, which comes in at nearly 58m and is utilised by Australian forces, as well as the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

The regeneration of shipbuilding at Harland & Wolff, which comprises its historic Belfast shipyard and other key UK sites such as the Appledore facility in south-west England, is central to the UK’s efforts to improve opportunities for its maritime industries in both civil and military sectors. Harland & Wolff is part of the consortium tasked with building the UK’s new Fleet Solid Support ships, destined for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

According to GlobalData analysis, Harland & Wolff Group reported revenues of £28m ($34.91m) for the fiscal year 2022 (FY2022), an increase of 51% over FY2021. The operating loss of the company was £58.1m in FY2022, compared with an operating loss of £22.4m in FY2021. The net loss of the company was £70.4m in FY2022, compared with a net loss of £25.5m in FY2021.

Our signals coverage is powered by GlobalData’s Thematic Engine, which tags millions of data items across six alternative datasets – patents, jobs, deals, company filings, social media mentions and news – to themes, sectors and companies. These signals enhance our predictive capabilities, helping us to identify the most disruptive threats across each of the sectors we cover and the companies best placed to succeed. 

Hypersonics see continued development across 2023

The US, Russia, and China are all testing hypersonic technology, generating fears of escalating global competition for weaponry that has the potential to render current defenses inadequate. Aside from military applications, hypersonic technology promises extremely fast commercial flight. However, with the future of commercial aviation looking increasingly green, and with inherent challenges to the commercial hypersonic profit model, it appears unlikely that hypersonic passenger flights will emerge as a major market.

Newsletters by sectors

close

Sign up to the newsletter: In Brief

Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Thank you for subscribing

View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network.

close