Warship Revival in Europe Drives Comeback for UK Shipbuilders

In 1976, welder Phil McClean won “Apprentice of the Year” at Harland and Wolff’s shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who also worked in the docks famous for building World War II warships and the Titanic.

Now, it’s McClean’s generation behind the UK’s shipbuilding ambitions, fueled by a multibillion-dollar European rearmament campaign meant to counter threats from enemies including Russia.