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The naming of a consortium as the preferred bidder for a \u00a31.3 billion British Royal Navy contract has been welcomed by supporters of an under-threat shipyard in Belfast.<\/p>\nThe naming of a consortium as the preferred bidder for a \u00a31.3 billion British Royal Navy contract has been welcomed by supporters of an under-threat shipyard in Belfast.<\/p>\n
The consortium, led by engineering giant Babcock and including the Harland and Wolff shipyard, is expected to be formally awarded the contract later this financial year.<\/p>\n
The five ships will be assembled at its Rosyth Dockyard in Scotland and will involve supply chains throughout the UK.<\/p>\n
Harland and Wolff supporters said the contract would sustain five to six years of work at Belfast shipyard through steel fabrication work alone.<\/p>\n
The historic shipyard \u2013 best known for building the Titanic \u2013 entered administration in August, with accountancy firm BDO overseeing the process.<\/p>\n
The move placed 120 jobs at risk.<\/p>\n
Workers have been staging a round the clock occupation of the site in a campaign to save it.<\/p>\n
A union leader involved with the campaign welcomed the contract development.<\/p>\n
Unite regional coordinating officer Susan Fitzgerald said the news \u201chighlights that the shipyard in Belfast has a future as a viable shipbuilder\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust weeks ago politicians including the British Government had written off this yard, saying it had no future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough their courageous stand the workforce at Harland and Wolff have held open the door for the company to participate in this work \u2013 they have kept this shipyard in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opportunity exists to bring this work to Belfast providing at least five to six years of work in steel fabrication onsite alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cWe now need to see urgent intervention by government to get our members back to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a clear program of work for the company into the future \u2013 all that is needed is the political will to safeguard a future for this shipyard.\u201d<\/p>\n