Titanic' Shipyard to Cut 265 Jobs

The Associated Press ^ | OCTOBER 07, 2002

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Harland and Wolff, the shipyard that built the Titanic, confirmed Monday that it will cut more than two-thirds of its work force by mid-January.

The shipyard employed more than 30,000 people 50 years ago, but the 265 new job cuts will reduce employment to 121. The company blamed the reductions on the poor economy, which has affected other shipyards in Britain and Europe.

Founded in 1861, Harland and Wolff produced 1,700 ships, including nearly 300 naval and merchant vessels during World War II.

Its two giant cranes, Samson and Goliath, are landmarks in east Belfast.

The most famous product of the shipyard was the Titanic, launched in 1912. It sank on its maiden voyage after striking an iceberg.

Harland and Wolff said that it is pursuing future business opportunities but has been ``unable to secure sufficient firm workload to maintain current employment levels.''

Harland and Wolff said it will try to maintain its technical expertise, and that it is unlikely that ship designers or naval architects will lose their jobs.

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[Poohbah]

Being known for the Titanic can't be a plus on the corporate resume...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Having your "most famous product" sink on its maiden voyage can lead to some negative press.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Having your "most famous product" sink on its maiden voyage can lead to some negative press.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Disregard one of the above.

[okie01]

"Disregard one of the above."

Which one?

[okie01]

"Disregard one of the above."

Which one?

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[IronJack]

On the contrary. Harlan and Wolff played no part in the sinking. Titanic was state of the shipbuilders' art when she slid down the ways. That her owners and pilots didn't know how to steer her is hardly the builders' fault.

If you ram your 308 GT into a bridge abutment, you can hardly blame Enzo Ferrari.

[RightWhale]

the 265 new job cuts will reduce employment to 121

How can they build any ships at all with 121 employees?

[Poohbah]

Turns out H&W used some amazingly brittle steel. The hull should've shrugged off the blow.

[IronJack]

Actually, the steel has proven sound. The rivets were of dubious quality however. Defenders say that they were the same quality as rivets used throughout the shipbuilding world of 1912.

And all the second-guessing in the world won't change the fact that no ship's hull should have to meet the challenge of confronting an iceberg at full speed ahead.

[Maceman]

On the contrary. Harlan and Wolff played no part in the sinking.

It was the design of he so-called water-tight compartments that sealed the ship's fate. The design was changed after the sinking.

[IronJack]

Yet it was that very design -- flawed though it was -- that earned Titanic the nickname "unsinkable." No other ships featured such advanced engineering (except Titanic's sister, Olympic.)

It is fair to say that any other ship of the day, driven as irresponsibly as she was, slamming into an iceberg at the speed and angle she did, would have sunk just as surely.

Blame White Star. Blame Capt. Smith. Blame Bruce Ismay. But don't blame Harland and Wolff.