A number of unnamed parties have expressed interest in acquiring troubled yard Harland and Wolff, according to administrators at the UK company.
BDO Northern Ireland said it is “expediently following up” on enquires from “a number of interested parties/potential bidders” that have come forward since its executives Brian Murphy and Michael Jennings were appointed joint administrators on 6 August.
A “viable commercial solution” is being sought, a statement added. “This is our focus and we are working closely with interested parties and stakeholders with the aim of securing a positive outcome.”
BDO are meanwhile facilitating “unpaid temporary lay-off” of staff until Friday, 16 August, “in light of insufficient funds to cover the current running costs”. The move is “in conjunction” with unions that represent the yard’s 123 staff.
“This provides a limited additional time for all parties to pursue any potential opportunity to find a commercial basis to continue the business as a going concern,” added the BDO statement.
“For a small number of workers, the option of redundancy has been provided and taken up. A limited core team of workers has also been retained to maintain the site and facilitate the administrators in carrying out their duties.”