First Vessel Built by Harland and Wolff in 20 Years Delivered to UK Capital

22nd April 2023

The new barge Afloat adds named the Wandle, has become the first of 23 barges that will be delivered from Harland & Wolff, Belfast to the Cory Group in London. The Thames-side recycling and waste management company operates river-based services using a fleet of barges and tugs among them the Resource as above towing the new barge. Credit: CoryGroupUK-twitter

At the Harland & Wolff Group's Belfast shipyard, the first vessel to be built in 20 years has been delivered to the Cory Group, a London based recycling and waste management company.

As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the first of the 23 barges which will be used on the River Thames to transport recyclable and non-recyclable waste, was launched at the historic shipyard which built its last ship, the MV Anvil Point in 2003.

The barge which Afloat adds is named the Wandle, was completed in February at the iconic Belfast shipyard and has since made a delivery voyage to the UK capital. The new barge arrived at Cory’s lighterage site on the banks of the Thames where the Wandle will join Cory’s fleet of tugs and barges.

The Cory Group which provides a unique river-based infrastructure in London, is the largest commercial operator on Thames. Its use of the river to transport waste removes around 100,000 truck journeys from the capital's roads each year.

Initially, Cory has placed an order with Harland & Wolff for 12 barges on 1st June 2022 and which was worth £8.5 million. This order however was later extended with a contract to build a further 11 barges, taking the contract investment total to £18.1 million.

The barges will play a vital role in Cory’s growth plans including the Group's Riverside2 Energy from Waste (EfW) facility. At the end of last year, the company reached financial close on the (EfW) facility which will divert c. 650,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste from landfill as the plant is to generate enough electricity to power 140,000 homes each year.

With Wandle in service and the rest of the new barges to follow, they will bolster their fleet of tugs and barges and be essential in delivering feedstock to the new energy facility.

More here the newspaper reports also on the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract of a £1.6bn Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme which is to see the final assembly of three ships take place at the Belfast shipyard.

The newbuild trio will be part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) which plays a crucial support and supply role of the Royal Navy's fleet.

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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