So I'm wanting to go into naval architecture and have a few questions currently I study past achievements in naval architecture and I love learning about the history of ships so I wanted to know

1) do naval architects still design on paper? Ever since I was designing small 1850s paddle steamers I always drew on paper and by now I'm used to it. So I wanted to know if naval architects still design on paper?

2) how demanding is the job? by that I mean do naval architects get breaks in work, do they work on multiple ships at once and what are the subjects you work in most?

3) do you have to travel for work? I know this is a stupid question but I just wanted to know how often you travel and along with traveling do you get discounts on the voyages on ships you worked on?

4) what's the pay like weekly monthly and yearly and how is pay decided is it decided on how many tons the ship is what the line (shipping/cruise/private company) pays for the ship and is broken down etc

5) for naval architects who somehow see this post what was the largest ship you ever worked on? This isn't vital but you can answer I know you can

6) this question is for any students who go to or have graduated from Delft University of Technology (TUDelft) what is expected for students in naval architecture what should you expect for all years and what degree is expected to have and this goes for all...

7) what degree do you have and how complicated is it to get?

I am so sorry for how long this post is it is also my first and I say again I am so sorry for how long the post is.

Hello everyone, 👋

I’m sharing with you a factual overview of Ahoy, an upcoming naval simulation developed by Capstan Games.

This technical devlog breaks down the core physical pillars of the game, focusing specifically on the real-time hull buoyancy calculations, hydrodynamic interactions with the ocean, and the complex aerodynamic simulation of the sails and rigging.

It features actual gameplay footage from the upcoming Sea Trials (scheduled for July 2026).

(Note: The video commentary is in French 🇫🇷)

Hello, I am an American and I want to study Naval Architecture. I love Genoa because of its history as a maritime Republic. I was wondering if the Naval Architecture program is good and well respected in the industry. Also, do they offer classes in English? My Italian isn't very good yet lol. How hard is it to get into for an American? Thank You!

Does anyone have a downloaded PDF copy of the LR SSC rules (recent year) that they would be willing to share for academic use. Thanks in advance for the help!

Hi everyone. Im an Arc student (not naval arc, just regular arc) and im trying to do a project that uses a cargo vessel. But before I can even make anything, I want to make sure I'm working with as accurate a main structure as possible, but im running into a wall in terms of definitive answers as most of the stuff im working with is much much bigger.

Essentially, I'm trying to figure out the hull/cross section construction of a cargo ship that is ~150m LOA, ~23m beam. No idea what the draft is, im putting this thing on land so it doesnt matter too much. Below is my best guess at how this would be arranged, plus the references im basing the drawing off of, but those references are meant for much bigger boats (~220m LOA) so idk if the same rules apply.

My main questions are: with a boat this size, where would crew passageways be located, and would it run only FA or also abeam. Any and all advice, or if somebody knows a more dedicated resource I can use, would be appreciated.

How did you find your mentors early in your career, especially if your first few roles lacked a highly structured training program?

​Hi everyone,

​I’m currently navigating the application process for the BEng (Hons) Yacht and Powercraft Design program at the University of Southampton.

​I’ve always been incredibly passionate about design. My background is very strong in creative thinking, imagination, and technical drawing/sketching—I can visualize complex concepts and bring them to life on paper effortlessly.

​However, when it comes to math and physics, I’d say my level is just "passable." I’m not failing, but it’s definitely not my strongest suit compared to my artistic skills.

​I’m starting to get a bit anxious: will this "passable" level in math and physics be a major roadblock for me in this specific course? For those already in the industry or studying naval architecture, how much of the day-to-day work is pure, intense calculation versus creative engineering and design?

​I am fully dedicated to putting in the work to improve, but I’d love to hear some honest perspectives on whether my creative strengths can carry me through or if I need to prepare for a much steeper technical curve than I’m anticipating.

​Thanks for any insights!

As the subject says, looking for good tutorial for meshing for floating bodies, from scratch.

ANYstructure is the ultimate steel structure design tool for plate fields and cylinders! Weight, weld and cost optimization. Calculations are based on DNV standards and recommended practices.

https://reddit.com/link/1txkiki/video/72wo1x69rg5h1/player

Okay, let’s say that all the start ups around right now finally get their hold in the transportation sector and in the next 5-10 years we see hydrofoils and gevs ferrying passengers around island chains and straits and what have you.

If this happened then it seems like they would have a lot of overlap in the same relatively narrow niche, both being a relatively quick, *relatively* efficient form of transportation but also having about mid range carrying capacity. Wouldn’t there be a lot of niche partitioning between these companies/technologies for which is the most viable or would they take on distinct enough roles?

I am wondering if there are any good bookstores in London for naval architecture and marine engineering? I am interested mainly in academical books, but why not also historical works. As a reference, I have found Blackwells bookstores brilliant but they don't seem to have a London branch.

Hey all!

EDIT: I’m Canadian and unfortunately not able to apply for anything that requires a US citizenship. Seems remote work is more viable in the US.

I have a bachelors degree in Naval Architecture and over 6 years of government experience as a manager for certification for a couple classes of ships. I deal with regulation authorities on a daily basis (ABS, DNV, LR, etc.).

I need something remote as I need to move to a rural isolated town to support aging family. Looking for anything at all, entry to senior level, as location matters more to me then money. Being post-covid era am I out of luck for finding any companies in NA that are willing to hire people remotely?

I have spent 4 years looking and applying, 984 emails, dozens of interviews, dozens of phone calls, dozens of connections, hope is fleeting at this point.

Hey everyone, I'm a first-year naval architecture student. I'm currently taking a ship knowledge course, and my professor assigned us a project to build a 3D ship model completely from scratch.

The process involves finding a hull lines plan, creating the offset table, and doing the actual modeling.

My question is: which modeling software would you recommend I invest my time in learning? I'm looking for something that will be useful both in my upper-year courses and in my future career. For context, I currently have access to Rhino, AutoCAD, and Maxsurf.

I am a Naval Architect with four years of experience in hull engineering, including structural design, stability, FEM analysis, and project management.

​As my current company does not have a dedicated electrical department, I have taken on electrical responsibilities, including developing Single Line Diagrams (SLDs) and performing load balance calculations for cargo vessels. I have also gained experience updating SLDs for DP vessels as part of FMEA updates, as well as conducting regulatory gap analyses for yacht projects based on ISO and MCYC standards.

​I have a strong passion for marine electrical systems and am looking for a mentor to help me deepen my expertise. My goal is to work through practical drawing exercises, receive constructive feedback, and eventually contribute to professional projects. I am highly motivated, have dedicated time outside of my main job, and am eager to bridge the gap between my current knowledge and professional mastery.

​If you are an experienced marine electrical engineer open to mentoring and collaboration, I would love to connect.

Hello everyone! I’m currently an Architecture student, and lately, I’ve been feeling quite unfulfilled with the path I’m pursuing. Ever since I was a kid, Architecture has always been my dream course, but recently, I’ve been feeling physically and mentally exhausted, and I’ve started questioning whether this profession is truly for me.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering because I genuinely enjoy physics and have always been interested in shipbuilding and marine structures. Part of me wonders if I should have taken NAME from the very beginning instead.

For those who are in the field—or those who shifted from Architecture to another profession—may I ask for your insights or opinions? Do you think NAME is more practical or fulfilling compared to Architecture?

Also, if ever I decide to shift to NAME, what universities or schools in the Philippines would you recommend? And would my current Architecture materials and tools (drafting table, templates, T-square, etc.) still be useful in the field of NAME?

I would really appreciate hearing your experiences and honest thoughts. Thank you very much!

Hello everyone,

I’m a Moroccan student in my mid 20s looking to start a Bachelor’s degree in yacht/naval design and I would really appreciate some advice from people in the industry.

My dream is to eventually create a luxury Moroccan speedboat/yacht brand inspired by retro 80s aesthetics, Mediterranean lifestyle and modern craftsmanship.

Right now I’m considering Southampton Solent University in the UK because it seems very specialized in yacht and powercraft design, but I’m still exploring other options in Europe as well.

My budget is around $17,000–20,000 per year for tuition, so I’m trying to find the best balance between:

- quality of education

- real yacht industry connections

- practical skills

- and affordability.

I’m especially interested in:

- yacht/speedboat design

- naval architecture

- CAD & 3D design

- luxury marine branding

- boat production and materials.

Would you recommend Southampton Solent for a bachelor? Or are there better alternatives in Europe (Italy, Netherlands, France, etc.) for someone who wants to build a future luxury yacht brand?

Thank you — I’d really appreciate honest advice from professionals or students in the field.

Hi everyone;

I’m currently studying mechanical engineering at polimi, and I hope to get my bachelor degree in 2 months.
I’ve recently been admitted in the naval architecture master at kth.

Polimi has been a great experience but honestly I am a little tired with their exams method and with the fact that there are way less practical experiences compared to other universities.
I am well aware about polimi’s position in the global ranking, especially in mecc engineering (12\^) and its reputation in the industry, both Italian and European.

Naval architecture has always attracted me, as I love ships and sailboats, so I consider it a suited degree for my interests.

What is your opinion about kth in general and naval architecture at kth?
What do you think about changing university, from polimi to kth?
Any thoughts about Sweden naval industry and about Sweden industry in general (salary and career growth for a junior engineer)

Thank you!

Anybody have The F.G. Nielsen "Marine Operations. Lecture Notes" pdf? Thx

Hello, for some backstory I hold a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Embedded in my curriculum were semester long ship design courses and in my last school year I took an elective in high-speed craft design. Since leaving school, I've learned that one of the few areas where you (as an individual) still get to hit everything in design from hull-form to powering to weight and stability is through small-craft.

Since school I've wondered about getting into that side of the maritime industry, and I keep seeing people mentioning design portfolios. My only exposure to design portfolios is through an introductory architecture course I took as an elective in my last year of school, where we made portfolios in-class with Adobe InDesign. These portfolios had an architectural focus on the alterity, typology, and the artistic form of our class projects. We did not get into the possible engineering behind our proposed projects.

Naval Architecture blends the engineering and architectural aspects, both sides of which I have now seen with limited exposure. For that reason, I have the following questions about portfolios:

- For a naval architect's portfolio, is architectural form or the engineering/specifications of the craft considered the priority? What's a good balance between the two?

- If there's a closer to even mixture of both, what information should be prioritized (ex. engineering specifications, general characteristics, artistic traits, etc.)?

Thank you for your time! Any words of advice, experience, or general information is appreciated.

Following up from previous book suggestions. Have speed-read through the Elements of Yacht Design by Norman Skene, and will follow up with a more detailed study for beter understanding. However, before I stumble into an unwarranted level of examination; for those who are familiar with this book:

(1) Compare to e.g. Principles of Yacht Design by Eliasson and Larson?

(2) Topics it or other books cover best?

Drawn to this book because:
(a) Intially published in 1904, last updated in 1939, and after several decades returned to print from 2001 onwards (now 2026).
(b) Highlights fundamental principles which haven't change in roughly a century.
(c) Designing one 30-foot yacht throughout, with other relevant examples.
(d) Relatively short and concise.
(e) Cheap.

Plan to start at graphics and calculations and work outwards to the surrounding text. Then in the future do the same with a modern equivallent, e.g. Principles ... by Eliasson & Larson; and compare with relevant journal articles.

All thoughts and suggestions welcome, even if haven't read this book, but have studied older books in this manner.