Navantia has been in exclusive negotiations since October after Harland and Wolff's holding company fell into administration. All jobs at the firm are expected to be saved in the deal, which is also thought to include Harland and Wolff's facilities in Scotland and England.

Troubled shipbuilder Harland and Wolff, which crashed into administration owing more than £160m earlier this year, has been saved. Spanish state-owned business Navanti has struck a deal to buy the Belfast-based company in a move which will secure 1,