Belfast's troubled Harland and Wolff shipyard was tonight celebrating after securing a lifesaving contract to construct two ferries for the British Ministry of Defence.
Steel cutting for the two 14,200 tonne, roll-on roll-off ferries, will start on Monday, said the company.
The Stg£80 million contract secures remaining jobs in the yard, which saw its workforce cut from 1,500 to 500 last year as it struggled to survive.
The contract is part of a six-ferry order placed with shipyards by the MoD last October, but was only finalised today.
Welcoming confirmation that they can go ahead, yard chief executive Mr Brynjulv Mugaas said: "We are delighted that this contract has today been finalised."
He said it provided a platform "upon which we shall seek to expand and extend our orderbook".
Mr Mugaas said there was no doubt that significant niche market opportunities existed for efficient and competitive European shipbuilders.
He said the contract had provided optimism for future development of the yard.
"After the difficult experiences of the last two years, Harland and Wolff has today been offered a singular opportunity to rebuild and revitalise shipbuilding in Belfast.
"It is an opportunity which we fully intend to grasp.".
Last month, the yard reported losses of Stg£26 million for last year, much of it because of an on-going dispute with an American oil company over some Stg£23 million as the final payment on the second of two oil drill ships.
Legal action is continuing as the yard seeks to recoup the money.
PA