Harland and Wolff has confirmed the business is set to be placed into administration for the second time in five years.
Insolvency practitioners Teneo are being lined up to act as administrators and some “non-core” staff are being made redundant.
However the company’s board said there was a “credible pathway” for its four shipyards to continue trading under new ownership.
Its main yard is in Belfast, with other operations at Appledore in England and Methil and Arnish in Scotland.