Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff has announced that it has secured a contract to construct two roll-on roll-off ferries for the British Ministry of Defence's strategic sealift programme.
Construction of the two 14,200 dead-weight tonnage vessels, each measuring 193 metres by 26 metres, is to begin immediately, with delivery planned for October 2002 and January 2003.
Welcoming the finalisation of the contract, Harland & Wollf group chief executive Mr Brynjulv Mugaas said the order would provide a platform on which the yard hoped to extend its order book.
"Although we shall begin steelwork within the next few days, the full benefits of the contract will not be felt in our production areas until the summer. We are currently in advanced negotiations with a number of potential customers which we hope will lead to firm contracts being put in place imminently for structural steelwork to cover this interim period."
Referring to the past two years as an "extremely difficult experience" due to the ongoing dispute with Global Marine, Mr Mugaas said the Ministry of Defence contract offered the company a "singular opportunity to rebuild and revitalise shipbuilding in Belfast".
