By Ryan Sands
CASTLEWELLAN’S Walter Watson Ltd recently completed the £1.5m sale of 11 new cranes to Harland & Wolff.
The Belfast shipyard has installed the vital equipment as part of a £98.5m modernisation under its new owner, Navantia UK, as it prepares for advanced shipbuilding and naval projects.
A Navantia UK statement highlighted that the cranes include a semi-Goliath – a gantry crane with a 20-metre span capable of lifting 20 tonnes – six electric overhead travelling cranes and four jib cranes for use in and around the yard’s fabrication hall.
“All of the cranes were purchased from Walter Watson Ltd, a family-owned leader in structural steel and industrial cranes based in Castlewellan, County Down, and established in 1967,” it continued.
“The specification for the cranes included full radio control, anti-collision technology, digital weigh load indication and magnet enabled preparation within each control panel.”
Carlos Lopez Carregado, General Manager at Harland & Wolff, said that they aim to “award contracts to local businesses wherever possible”, as they begin work on building three Fleet Solid Support ships – which provide supplies to naval vessels at sea – for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
“That means the economic benefits of shipbuilding for the Ministry of Defence flow straight into the community,” he added.
“This new crane will play a key role in shipyard operations. “It will be a vital piece of equipment, as we assemble ship blocks in readiness to build the Fleet Solid Support ships and many future ships in Belfast.
“We’re pleased to be working with Walter Watson, a world-class local supplier.”
David Barr, Managing Director, Walter Watson Ltd, stated that the company was “delighted to have been awarded the contract to manufacture, install and commission these 11 cranes for Navantia UK’s Harland & Wolff site”.
“In particular, it’s a privilege to have been entrusted to supply and commission this twin hoist semi-Goliath crane under the shadow of the iconic Samson and Goliath cranes, from which this model takes its name.
“All of these units were manufactured and tested at our County Down-based facility in Castlewellan.
“We used our in-house transport capabilities to deliver them to Harland & Wolff’s site on Belfast Harbour, prior to erecting them with an 80-tonne mobile crane from our own plant fleet.”
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe posted: “Well done to all at Walter Watson.
“We have a thriving local industry, and I’m proud to see this success.”
