Nova Scotia's economic development minister was in Shelburne on Friday to discuss the future of one of the town's most important and troubled industries.

The Shelburne Ship Repair yard, owned by the province and leased to Irving Shipbuilding Inc., was shut down last week because major upgrades are needed before any more work can be carried out.

Irving estimates it will cost between $8 million and $13 million to fix the yard.

Municipal politicians and labour leaders met with Economic Development Minister Percy Paris and urged him to help the yard.

Paris made no commitments, saying he needs more information on the state of negotiations between the Irvings and Nova Scotia Business Inc., the lending arm of the provincial government.

Said Mary Keith, a spokeswoman for Irving Shipbuilding: "We need to make repairs to the marine railway and also to the wharf. These are essential portions of infrastructure that are of Second World War vintage.

"Until such time as they are repaired, we’re not going to be able to undertake any additional work. There is an international certification that is required with regard to these two pieces of infrastructure."

Keith said she's hoping negotiations will conclude within a few weeks. Up to 60 people have worked at the yard. There are now only five people left on staff to watch over and maintain the facility.

Shelburne Mayor Alan Delaney said the disappearance of 60 jobs is unacceptable.

"The county cannot sustain the loss of these jobs. The ripple effect throughout the entire economy of Shelburne County will be devastating to us. It’ll take us back further," he said.

"In the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve lost over 1,000 jobs in Shelburne County."

Delaney said the ship repair yard employed up to 200 people in the 1980s.

He said he’s hoping improvements to the ship repair yard will mean it can work on larger ships and employ more people to do the work.