Posted on August 26, 2026
By Margaret Canning
Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff has nabbed its biggest cruise ship refurb for Belfast since the business was bought over last year.
Staff will be working on the revitalisation of the Beachcomber, a project with an estimated £40m economic impact.
The vessel is owned by Florida cruise giant Margaritaville at Sea, with work starting in September before she enters service from the Port of Miami next year.
H&W previously refurbished sister vessel Islander in 2024, before the firm’s sale to Spanish company Navantia was finalised.
Navantia UK said the work reinforced Belfast’s position as “an increasingly important destination for cruise ship repair, refurbishment and revitalisation”.
It said the project would have a “significant” economic impact and would generate around £40m for the region, through engagement of Harland & Wolff’s ship repair yard, its facilities and skilled workforce.
Margaritaville at Sea will be supported by contractors and suppliers in Northern Ireland, MJM and Mivan, both owned by MJM Marine, and Madden Marine.
Navantia UK said the companies’ involvement displayed “the depth of expertise across the region’s ship repair and maritime supply chain, further strengthening Belfast’s position as an internationally recognised centre for complex cruise ship revitalisation projects”.
Graham Couser, director of ship repair, Navantia UK, said: “This project is another major vote of confidence in our Belfast yard’s growing reputation as a destination for world-class cruise ship repair, refurbishment and revitalisation.
“Being selected for a second major vessel from the Margaritaville at Sea fleet demonstrates the trust that international cruise operators have in our facilities, our people and our ability to deliver complex projects to demanding schedules.
“Belfast has all the ingredients to become one of Europe’s leading cruise refit hubs, buoyed by Navantia UK’s acquisition last year.
“Our unique dry dock capacity, deep-water access and heavy engineering capability, combined with Navantia’s extensive global experience in cruise ship repair, provide operators with a compelling option in Western Europe.
“We are investing heavily in our facilities and transferring proven expertise from across the wider Navantia Group to build a long-term centre of excellence for ship repair in the UK.”
Minas Miliaris, chief maritime officer of Margaritaville at Sea, said: “The transformation of Beachcomber represents the next step in the continued growth of Margaritaville at Sea, and we’re pleased to once again partner with the team in Belfast to help bring that vision to life.
“Their work on Islander demonstrated the quality, craftsmanship and expertise required for a project of this scale, giving us the confidence to return as we prepare Beachcomber for its global debut in 2027.
“As we continue expanding our fleet, having trusted partners who understand our commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience is invaluable.”
According to Navantia UK, it was picked for the contract after its successful work on the Islander and its proven ability to deliver “complex, large-scale cruise ship transformation projects”.
Navantia said it worked on more than 200 vessels every year across its network of shipyards. Its yard in Cádiz had completed over 100 major cruise ship projects and has ranked among the world’s leading cruise repair facilities by volume since 2022.
And it said “knowledge transfer” was now embedding the same expertise in Belfast.
It described the Belfast yard as “one of the largest ship repair facilities in Western Europe” with two of Europe’s largest dry docks, more than 1,300 metres of deep-water quayside, no tidal restrictions and heavy lifting infrastructure capable of accommodating the world’s largest cruise ships.
Navantia UK said the Beachcomber project reflected its ambition to establish Belfast as a “leading centre for cruise, ferry and commercial ship repair”.
It said: “With demand for dry dock capacity increasing across Europe, Navantia UK is investing to ensure Belfast plays a leading role in supporting the next generation of cruise ship maintenance and revitalisation projects.”
