Ship Repair versus Ship Building

Ship repair and ship building are two very different activities. Shipbuilding yards (also referred to as build yards) invest millions of dollars in specialized computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment to enable the exact reproduction of specialized items such as bolts, brackets, engine mounts, or pre-formed pipe sections.  These pieces are then assembled by trades people in the hull, mechanical, and electrical areas to ensure that fit, finish, and alignment is precise.

In comparison, ship repair yards work on vessels that have been in service for years in harsh marine environments. The ship’s machinery may be old and worn out, the hull of the vessel may be corroded and thin in places, or there may be collision damage or catastrophic machinery failures. Repairs are made to these vessels to specified safety standards.  The customer may not want (or be able to afford) the same high standard that would be found in a new vessel.

Welding, surface preparation, grinding, sandblasting, painting, and engine rebuilding are the activities common to ship repair yards. While both yards will employ trades people from across the classifications, how those people work is different in terms of the machinery and tools used, and the processes and schedules followed.

Comparison of Ship Building and Ship Repair

 

Ship Building	Ship Repair
Costs can run from millions to billions	Smaller budgets than ship building
Built to the highest standards	Repaired to meet safety standards
Utilization of specialized computer equipment to build new pieces	Utilization of welding, painting and rebuilding to repair existing parts
Construction follows a specific schedule	Repair schedule determined by need:  catastrophic damage, regular maintenance, or refits.