Spanish-state-owned Navantia is the "type of company" that the Northern Ireland Executive would like to see acquiring Harland and Wolff, has said the Economy Minister.
The Madrid headquartered shipbuilder is in exclusive talks aimed at reaching a deal to take over Harland and Wolff's four shipyard facilities.
It's main yard is in Queen’s Island, east Belfast, along with additional operations at Appledore in north Devon, England, and Arnish (Isle of Lewis) and Methil (Firth of Forth) in Scotland.
The Minister, Conor Murphy, said he did not want to pre-empt the deal involving the Spanish shipyard, which has three yards, but that an experienced shipbuilder taking control would be a good outcome.
"It’s that type of company we would have been thinking about, one that is in that game and has the wherewithal to invest and retain the staff," Murphy said.
Navantia, which has its biggest shipyard in Cadiz, southern Spain, already has a naval business relationship with Harland and Wolff.
It is the main contractor of a UK Government naval project to build three replenishment support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), with Harland and Wolff acting as subcontractor. The trio would serve the requirements of the Royal Navy.
More from BBC News on the Navantia deal where the Cadiz yard in the Andalucia region has the majority of its 4,000 employees.
