What's included
Shipbuilding has its own milestone vocabulary, and a generic construction template does not carry it. The template uses the yard sequence:
- Design & approval — Basic and detail design, classification society review and regulatory approval. Milestone: class approval.
- Procurement — Main engine, propulsion, generators, steel and long-lead equipment ordered against lead times that often exceed the build.
- Steel work & blocks — Steel cutting, panel and sub-assembly fabrication, block assembly and pre-outfitting in the shops. Milestone: steel cutting, then keel laying.
- Erection — Block erection in dock or on the berth, hull closure, welding and alignment.
- Outfitting — Machinery installation, piping, electrical, accommodation and painting — usually the largest labour content.
- Launch, trials & delivery — Launch or float-out, quay-side commissioning, sea trials, and handover to the owner. Milestone: delivery.
How to customize it
- Set the delivery date first — shipbuilding contracts are delivery-driven and usually carry liquidated damages.
- Adjust block count and erection duration to vessel size and yard capacity.
- Move pre-outfitting earlier; work done in the shop is far cheaper than the same work done on the berth.
- Add a dry-dock or berth availability row if the yard runs multiple hulls.
- Mark each contractual milestone so payment stages are visible alongside progress.
Scheduling tips
- Maximise pre-outfitting. Fitting equipment into a block on the shop floor takes a fraction of the hours it takes inside a closed hull — the schedule should reflect that choice explicitly.
- Main engine delivery often drives the build. Its lead time can exceed everything else, so order and track it as a first-class schedule item.
- Protect the class approval gate. Steel cannot be cut against unapproved drawings, and re-work after class comment is expensive.
- Plan sea trials around weather and berth windows. They need favourable conditions and third-party attendance.
- Track outfitting by zone. Progress measured hull-wide hides which compartments are actually blocking completion.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the main shipbuilding milestones?
Class approval, steel cutting, keel laying, launch or float-out, sea trials and delivery. These are usually contractual and tied to payment instalments, which is why the template shows them as milestones.
How long does it take to build a ship?
Commonly 12–36 months depending on vessel type and yard, with design and long-lead procurement adding months before steel is cut. The template spans roughly a two-year build.
What is pre-outfitting and why does it matter to the schedule?
Installing piping, cabling and equipment into blocks before erection, while they are still accessible in the shop. It removes labour from the critical path later, so the template places it in parallel with block fabrication.
Is the shipbuilding template free?
Yes — free Excel, PowerPoint and CSV downloads and free online editing, with no account.