Harland and Wolff (H&F) have announced a new multi-million pound contract will secure up to 200 jobs at the Belfast-based manufacturer.

H&F have been contracted by ScottishPower Renewables to produce steel foundation jackets for major new offshore windfarm scheme, East Anglia ONE.

As part of the agreement, ScottishPower Renewables has ensured that the Harland and Wolff facility will deliver 24 of the jackets, supporting up to 200 jobs in Belfast.

The project is due to commence in March 2017 and last for a period of approximately 18 months.

East Anglia ONE is a £2.5 billion offshore windfarm which will generate 714MW of electricity when completed in 2020, enough to power 500,000 homes per year. ScottishPower Renewables is on target to deliver an industry-leading 50% UK content across the life of the project.

H&W Chief Executive, Robert J Cooper, said: "H&W are delighted to work with such a prestigious company as ScottishPower Renewables, on a project of nationally significant importance. Harland and Wolff have always been renowned for their unsurpassed quality and our collaboration with Lamprell Energy enhances our offer in terms of capacity and cost effectiveness.  We look forward to a successful relationship with ScottishPower Renewables and Lamprell Energy."

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Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower Renewables, said: "East Anglia ONE will be the best value offshore windfarm ever constructed, at the same time as delivering industry-leading levels of UK content. Both of these considerations have been prominent in our thinking during the process of placing these contracts and we are pleased that Belfast will play important roles in delivering this project, supporting hundreds of skilled jobs.

"The facilities in Belfast are excellent for supporting offshore wind construction, as we experienced on our West of Duddon Sands project.  We hope that the successful delivery of this contract will lead to even more opportunities in the offshore wind industry for Belfast.

"Our contracting strategy will ensure that over 50% of the overall lifetime investment for East Anglia ONE goes to suppliers in the UK. We are encouraging investment and supporting highly skilled jobs in Hull, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and now Belfast, and we are also in discussions with a range of other UK suppliers to deliver important contracts covering all aspects of this major project."

Jonathan Guest, H&W Director, Business Development added: "In a global supply chain environment, it is significant when a developer stands over its commitment to give opportunities to local fabricators, as ScottishPower Renewables have demonstrated for East Anglia ONE. Given the opportunity of a level playing field, we believe UK fabricators can surpass the best the market can offer.

"When you consider the importance of this project to the UK with regard to energy security, that is not only green but at a low cost, you can understand the pride Harland and Wolff has in being part of this important development and of the contribution it will bring into the Northern Ireland economy."

(MH/LM)