John Wood

Belfast Harland and Wolff shipyard was sold to save it from closure.

The Yard , bought at the has been best known for the construction of the Titanic, for £6m by the London-based energy company, infra-strata.

Harland and Wolff went into administration in August, putting about 120 jobs At Risk , after the collapse of its Norwegian parent company.

infra-strata said it was the 79-workers who are still employed reserves. He also hopes that the increase in the workforce of "several hundred" over five years.

The Unite Union said it was the people expected to return to work as early as This Week .

infra-strata will initially focus on metal for its energy projects.

The Company 's main project is a gas-storage project in Islandmagee in County Antrim , where he hopes to start construction work before the end of the year.

It is also planning a separate, floating gas storage facility, but there are complications, including building permit requirements and resistance from local residents.

infra-strata said the Islandmagee gas storage project, the main part of The Work for the shipyard first.

There is a plan to hollow out large caverns under Larne Lough to save gas, something that has been talked about since 2012.

The Proposal has some baugenehmigungs, but a key part of the approval is not yet in force.

A marine licence, necessary for work on the bottom of the sea, in the North Channel off Portmuck, is still open.

Without it, the necessary sea floor work can not be continued and The Process of securing it can sometimes be a lengthy.

There is also considerable local opposition to the gas-storage plan for ecological reasons.

fear, in particular, the conservationist part of the construction process.

salt and water are used to hollow out the gas caverns before, the sole solution would be created, into the sea pumped.

It has been claimed that the sole solution can be harmful to the sealife in its immediate vicinity.

The Company said it would be quickly diluted and dissipate, and would not hurt.

An additional complication is that the area of the planned sole-directed receiving recently a protected area.

The North Channel marine protected area was designated for its important population of the harbour porpoise.

infra-strata information on the environment, on the impact of The Proposal as part of the application must specify, and there will be a public consultation.

infra-strata chief executive John Wood said: "Harland and Wolff is a landmark of the asset and its reputation as one of the best multi-purpose production plants in Europe is a Testament to his highly qualified team in Belfast. "

The news follows a nine-week occupation of The Yard by the workers, supported by their trade unions.

Unite regional officer Susan Fitzgerald said that the workers had "defied The Cynics ".

"as well as securing their own Future , the workers will be sent a message, heard in Northern Ireland , the most immediately Wrightbus workers in Ballymena," She Said .

The Belfast shipyard in numbers

more than 35,000 employees, which was pumped at its peak during the second World War

£1bnof taxpayers' money in it to keep it

79jobs were retained after the sale in October 2019.

Northern Ireland Secretary General Julian Smith said he was "thrilled" by the news and the fact that the skills and experience of the workforce would be maintained.

"I firmly believe that The Yard has a promising Future and infra-strata plans present an exciting opportunity for Belfast and Northern Ireland manufacturing sector and in the energy sector," he said.

accounting firm BDO, the appointed formally to monitor the Belfast shipyard, when it is said in the administration, the "agreed sale is the transfer of The Remaining employees, their existing terms and conditions to the buyer at closing".

"In the meantime, it is intended that The Remaining employees will be able to return in order to facilitate The Work of the coming days, The Remaining steps necessary for the conclusion of a sale," a BDO spokesman said.

"This is a very positive step in the direction of securing a sale of the shipyard and for the protection and safeguarding of The Employment of the employee. "

East MP Gavin Robinson of Belfast, welcomed the news of the sale.

He said: "The Last two months have been uncertain for the workers, but their steadfastness, and, in fact, is the support of trade unions and the wider community, is incredible.

"today's announcement not only brings convenience for the employees who kept their dignified presence at court, but infra-strata have also outlined ambitious plans for growth in The Future . "

Source of news: bbc.com