BATH – The Navy’s supervisor of shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works has been put on paid administrative leave, but the reason why is not entirely clear.

Capt. Michael Stanton is on paid leave while the Navy conducts an internal inquiry, the Navy said in a statement Tuesday. The Navy described its inquiry as preliminary, but did not disclose the nature of the probe.

BIW spokesman James DeMartini said he’s not aware of any documents sought by the Navy or requests for interviews with company employees.

Stanton is being replaced by Steve Jacunski, the deputy supervisor of shipbuilding.

The supervisor is the main liaison from the Navy’s office of Navy Sea Systems Command with the Bath shipbuilder. The supervisor oversees construction of guided missile destroyers and provides technical, contract and program management for the Navy.

Navy spokeswoman Linda Roberts declined to say what led to the inquiry or to speculate on how long it might continue.