New contract awarded to Arnish fabrication yard in Western Isles following buy out from Spanish firm

An Arnish fabrication yard in the Western Isles has been awarded its first major contract following a buyout from a Spanish firm.

Navantia, the new tenants at the yard near Stornoway, have announced they have been awarded a significant contract by McDermott Trinidad Ltd to manufacture subsea structures for use in the Caribbean.

The contract represents a significant development for the Arnish facility, which was bought by the Spanish shipbuilder back in December – securing 350 jobs in Scotland in the process.

It comes after Belfast-based company Harland and Wolff was placed into administration in September for the second time in five years.

The year-long contract will see the Arnish team deliver critical subsea components for a project in Trinidad and Tobago and will support continued workforce expansion at the site.

Juan de la Cueva, CEO of Navantia UK, said: “We are delighted to partner with McDermott Trinidad on this important project. By securing international work for our Arnish facility, we are not only supporting skilled jobs in the Outer Hebrides but also showcasing Scottish engineering excellence globally. This contract represents exactly the type of high-value manufacturing that we want to bring to our UK facilities.”

Albert Allan, general manager of the Arnish facility, added: “This contract recognises our facility’s track record of delivering complex subsea structures to the highest quality standards.

“Our skilled workforce has extensive experience in precision fabrication for the energy sector, and this project will enable us to further expand our team whilst reinforcing Arnish’s position as a centre of excellence for critical energy infrastructure.”

Arnish first opened in 1974, and its previous owners included BiFab.

Ian Murray said: “This contract for Arnish is great news. It’s a real vindication of our fresh approach to our industrial strategy, which has helped secure the future of both the Arnish and Methill yards in Scotland.

“We are not just protecting jobs – we’re creating new ones and establishing Scotland as a global hub for energy infrastructure. This shows how our Plan for Change is delivering real results for Scotland’s communities.”