Harland & Wolff, the historic shipbuilding firm, has officially launched a £3.1 million overhaul of its world-famous Samson and Goliath cranes located in Belfast. These twin gantry cranes, which serve as iconic symbols of the city’s industrial heritage and the shipyard’s skyline, require significant maintenance to remain functional for future projects.

The company confirmed that the refurbishment process is already underway, with the initial focus directed toward Goliath, the older of the two structures. While the shipyard has faced various financial and operational challenges in recent years, this investment is framed as a commitment to maintaining the site's heavy-lifting capabilities. The cranes, which were constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, have become essential landmarks, and their preservation is viewed as both a practical necessity for shipbuilding and a cultural priority for the region. The project is expected to extend the operational life of the cranes, though specific timelines for the completion of the work on both structures have not been detailed in initial reports.