shipyard

A shipyard is a facility where ships are built, repaired, and maintained. It typically includes dry docks or slipways, cranes, fabrication shops, painting and outfitting facilities, and marine support services. There are commercial shipyards that construct merchant vessels such as container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers, and naval shipyards that build or refit warships and submarines.

Operations begin with planning and design by naval architects, followed by procurement and production planning. Construction commonly proceeds through block or modular construction, assembly, launching, and outfitting, with testing in sea trials. Dry docks and floating dry docks enable hull finishing, watertight testing, and major repairs. Shipyards also perform repair, refit, and maintenance work, often specializing in engines, propellers, electrical systems, coatings, and conversions.

Key location factors include access to deep water, proximity to ports and suppliers, and skilled labor. Large yards may operate as part of industrial clusters and rely on global supply chains. The shipbuilding industry is capital-intensive and cyclical, with employment and regional economic impact influenced by demand, financing, and government policies. Environmental and safety considerations encompass waste treatment, ballast water management, dredging, emissions control, and worker safety standards. Technological trends include computer-aided design, modular construction, automation, and digital project management. Notable shipyards exist worldwide, with prominent facilities in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. A shipyard may also undertake vessel conversions and retrofits to meet regulatory changes or evolving missions.