Harland and Wolff - Shipbuilding and Engineering Works

Harland and Wolff

For over 150 years, the Harland & Wolff shipyard has stood as a titan of British engineering and a cornerstone of Northern Ireland's industrial soul. From the iconic slipways of Queen's Island to the cutting edge of modern maritime technology, we remain a national asset for UK manufacturing. With world-class infrastructure and a legendary workforce, we don't just build structures: we forge the social fabric of Belfast. Having fabricated vessels of virtually every weight and dimension-from the golden age of ocean liners to the future of renewable energy and naval defence - our legacy is as immovable as the cranes that define our skyline.

The Ships

While synonymous with the Olympic-class liners and the legendary RMS Titanic, Harland & Wolff's maritime heritage spans over 150 years of unparalleled naval architecture. Our slipways have birthed a diverse armada that has shaped global commerce and naval history - from the opulent 'floating palaces' of the Golden Age of travel to the rugged heavy-tonnage oil tankers and bulk carriers that drive modern trade.

Our contribution extends through two World Wars, having engineered a formidable fleet of warships and aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. Whether crafting the world's most intricate luxury liners or the robust steel hulls of merchant vessels, Harland & Wolff has consistently defined the engineering standards for every vessel to ply the world's waterways.

Dunchers and Dungarees

The Harland & Wolff shipyard was forged by men of steel a workforce of hard-handed, self-educated, working-class heroes who built the modern world with sweat and rivets. In an era where Belfast-built meant the gold standard of global engineering, their innovations were consistently the first, the largest, and the fastest to ever grace the slipways.

This was the industrial heartbeat of Ulster. During the height of the Second World War, this collective of 30,000 master craftsmen became the 'Arsenal of Democracy,' launching over 170 naval vessels and repairing a staggering 22,000 more to keep the Allied lifelines open. From the 'Duncher' caps to the dungarees, these men didn't just build ships; they built a reputation for excellence that remains the pride of Northern Ireland.

Engineering

Engineered structures of virtually every weight and dimension, transforming raw materials into the backbone of global industry. From the monumental spans of bridges to the unique demands of locomotive transport and the rigorous tolerances of aviation and armoured defence.

The Cranes

"Dominating the Belfast skyline as twin monuments to industrial power, the Samson and Goliath gantry cranes remain the most iconic symbols of Harland & Wolff's immense lifting capacity. Engineered to a modified Krupp Ardelt design, these yellow giants redefined the shipyard's efficiency. The first, Goliath, was completed in July 1969, standing as a proud achievement of the yard's own fabrication teams who constructed the majority of the crane on-site. Her sister, Samson, arrived in its entirety from Germany in 1974 to complete the pair. With a combined lifting capacity of over 1,600 tonnes, they transformed Queen's Island into one of the most advanced maritime facilities in the world - a status they still hold in the hearts of the people of Northern Ireland."

Harland and Wolff

For over 150 years, the Harland & Wolff shipyard has stood as a titan of British engineering and a cornerstone of Northern Ireland's industrial soul. From the iconic slipways of Queen's Island to the cutting edge of modern maritime technology, we remain a national asset for UK manufacturing. With world-class infrastructure and a legendary workforce, we don't just build structures: we forge the social fabric of Belfast. Having fabricated vessels of virtually every weight and dimension-from the golden age of ocean liners to the future of renewable energy and naval defence - our legacy is as immovable as the cranes that define our skyline.

The Ships

While synonymous with the Olympic-class liners and the legendary RMS Titanic, Harland & Wolff's maritime heritage spans over 150 years of unparalleled naval architecture. Our slipways have birthed a diverse armada that has shaped global commerce and naval history - from the opulent 'floating palaces' of the Golden Age of travel to the rugged heavy-tonnage oil tankers and bulk carriers that drive modern trade.

Our contribution extends through two World Wars, having engineered a formidable fleet of warships and aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. Whether crafting the world's most intricate luxury liners or the robust steel hulls of merchant vessels, Harland & Wolff has consistently defined the engineering standards for every vessel to ply the world's waterways.

Dunchers and Dungarees

The Harland & Wolff shipyard was forged by men of steel - a workforce of hard-handed, self-educated, working-class heroes who built the modern world with sweat and rivets. In an era where Belfast-built meant the gold standard of global engineering, their innovations were consistently the first, the largest, and the fastest to ever grace the slipways.

This was the industrial heartbeat of Ulster. During the height of the Second World War, this collective of 30,000 master craftsmen became the 'Arsenal of Democracy,' launching over 170 naval vessels and repairing a staggering 22,000 more to keep the Allied lifelines open. From the 'Duncher' caps to the dungarees, these men didn't just build ships; they built a reputation for excellence that remains the pride of Northern Ireland.

Engineering

Engineered structures of virtually every weight and dimension, transforming raw materials into the backbone of global industry. From the monumental spans of bridges to the unique demands of locomotive transport and the rigorous tolerances of aviation and armoured defence.

The Cranes

"Dominating the Belfast skyline as twin monuments to industrial power, the Samson and Goliath gantry cranes remain the most iconic symbols of Harland & Wolff's immense lifting capacity. Engineered to a modified Krupp Ardelt design, these yellow giants redefined the shipyard's efficiency. The first, Goliath, was completed in July 1969, standing as a proud achievement of the yard's own fabrication teams who constructed the majority of the crane on-site. Her sister, Samson, arrived in its entirety from Germany in 1974 to complete the pair. With a combined lifting capacity of over 1,600 tonnes, they transformed Queen's Island into one of the most advanced maritime facilities in the world - a status they still hold in the hearts of the people of Northern Ireland."
Timeline