Hi everyone, I have an upcoming interview for a Junior Naval Architect position and would really appreciate some advice from those working in naval architecture.

The role is mainly site/survey work + design/drafting, including:
- Preparing/revising GA, tank capacity, fire & control, mooring and structural drawings
- Conducting dimensional surveys, inclining tests, lightship surveys and IHM surveys onboard vessels
- Processing survey data for vessel modelling, drawings and retrofit work
- Making basic naval architectural calculations
- Working with senior naval architects, other engineering disciplines, clients/shipyards/owners and Class
- Ensuring drawings comply with relevant Class rules, regulations and project requirements
- Extensive domestic/international travel, including working in machinery spaces, engine rooms and confined/restricted areas
- AutoCAD/CAD proficiency and ability to interpret vessel drawings

The position is open to fresh graduates or candidates with up to 2 years of relevant experience.

My situation is a little unusual. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Naval Architecture, but after graduating I spent around 7 years working in ship management, mainly with Offshore Support Vessels, in Operations and HSSE roles.

I’ve been wanting to move back into the naval architecture side of the industry, and I’m very happy to have finally landed an interview for this opportunity.

For those working as naval architects or who have interviewed for similar roles: what would you recommend I prepare?

In particular, I’d appreciate advice on:
1. Basic naval architecture topics I should refresh
2. Surveys/inclining/lightship/IHM knowledge I should understand
3. Drawings and AutoCAD expectations
4. Class rules/regulations I should be familiar with
5. Any technical questions or practical exercises I might encounter
6. Anything you think someone with my background should be particularly prepared to explain

I know I’m coming from a non-traditional path, so I’d really appreciate honest advice on what I should focus on before the interview. Thanks!

Hello everyone, I am also a Naval Architect, completed my degree in 2021.

I started my work at a small steel boat building yard when i was doing my degree. In 2024, i went to Dubai and started as a Project Engineer at a Ship repair company and this year, i switched to a yacht repair facility in the same designation. Currently, i regret starting in production and i lost touch with the designing side. I have good practical knowledge on new build and ship repair.

I wanted to get some advice on how to rebuild my career, shifting from site work to office work.

What all choices do i have and what can i do to achieve those. All your perspectives are welcome.

Thanks in advance!

A recent BSc Graduate in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Mid CGPA, research focus on FEA. Currently working at a dry dock in my home country ( South Asia) as QA/QC Engineer. I am now hoping for graduate studies in a US School preferably in Naval Architecture/ Marine Technology/ Offshore. I am preferably looking for a fully funded masters with a follow up PhD. Need some guidance on which schools should I Target? And how shall I reach the professors.

Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m an architecture student currently working on my undergraduate thesis, and I’m designing a floating mixed-use business and lifestyle district in a semi-enclosed bay environment as an alternative to land reclamation.

I’m at the point where I’ve realized that I'm lost on the naval architecture side. I’ve been reading about seasteading, floating developments, pontoon systems, modular floating platforms, floating breakwaters, mooring systems, etc., but the more I read, the more questions I have.

The site is in a semi-enclosed bay with relatively sheltered wave conditions, rather than an open-ocean environment.

For my preliminary environmental assumptions, I’m looking at approximately <0.5 m significant wave height under normal conditions. Modeling of a sheltered berthing area within the Bay found significant wave heights below 0.5 m for more than 98% of the time, with seasonal differences. Broader descriptions of the Bay's wave climate put typical wave heights roughly in the 0.5–1.5 m range, depending on location and season.

For an extreme/typhoon condition, I’ve found some data that the maximum significant wave height of around 1.83 m was modeled at one of the study locations. I’m treating this as an initial extreme-condition reference rather than assuming it represents the entire bay.

There is already a primary breakwater/coastal protection system in front of the site, and my concept is also considering secondary floating breakwaters around portions of the development to further reduce wave energy reaching the floating platforms.

Where I’m struggling is basically structural/marine-related:

• How do you actually approach designing a large floating development from a naval architecture perspective?
• What type of floating platform system would make sense for something this large, concrete pontoons, steel pontoons, modular units, semi-submersible-type systems, or something else?(really really just stuck on this one)
• How do you determine the appropriate displacement, buoyancy, and platform dimensions?
• How are multiple floating platforms connected while still allowing for relative movement?
• How would you approach mooring/anchoring for a permanent floating district?
• How much movement is acceptable for buildings, roads, pedestrian areas, and public spaces?
• Are there particular standards, software, textbooks, case studies, or design methodologies I should be looking into?

My intention isn't to create an open-ocean seastead operating independently offshore. It’s more of a permanent autonomous floating urban development in sheltered coastal waters, so I’m trying to understand whether I should be approaching this more like:

1. Seasteading / offshore floating structures
   
2. Large pontoon/floating infrastructure

I’m honestly really lost right now. I’m an architecture student trying my best to navigate the naval architecture/marine engineering side of the project, and I know there are probably a million things I’m overlooking.

I’m not expecting anyone to hash out things with me but I would genuinely appreciate being pointed in the right direction regarding how a naval architect would think about this problem from the very beginning.

If anyone here works in naval architecture, marine engineering, offshore structures, floating infrastructure, or large pontoon/floating developments, I’d genuinely appreciate any advice.

Canada.

Looking back, do you regret studying marine engineering technology to become a 4th-class engineer officer?

Hi everyone, I’m a student and am gonna apply to universities soon. I’m wondering whether taking a civil engineering degree, working for a couple years and doing a post graduate masters in Naval architecture (or marine engineering) will mean that if I try to get a job in NA, then will my salary progression restart from scratch? Or will the experience I have working in civil help me to get a better salary than a fresh graduate would get.

Of course my plan isn’t 100% to go into naval architecture after a civil degree, but it’s definitely a path I’m considering and I’m just curious how the market works for someone who has experience in a different but connected field.

Any insight would be extremely helpful thank you 🙏

Hi everyone,

I just finished my degree in Naval Architecture this year and I've actively started the job hunt.

Before I hyper-focus my applications, I’m trying to get a realistic picture of the entry-level job market across different regions and disciplines (Design, Offshore, Shipbuilding, Ship Repair, etc.).

I’m particularly interested in hearing about:

• Northern Europe (Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, etc.)
• United States
• United Kingdom
• Australia & New Zealand

If you work in any of these areas, I’d love to hear your thoughts on a few things:

1. Entry-Level Demand: Are companies actively taking on juniors/graduates right now, or is it a tough market to break into?
2. Sector Trends: Where is the growth in your region right now? (e.g., is offshore wind, defense.. )
3. Pay & Lifestyle: Generally speaking, does an entry-level salary in your region provide a decent standard of living?
4. Visa/Expat Friendliness: For international candidates, how open are companies to hiring or sponsoring junior talent from abroad right now? (UK/Spain dual citizenship)

Even if you can only speak to one specific niche or country, your insight would be incredibly helpful. I'm open to any advice from experienced voices on where someone freshout of university should look!

(I've previosuly had internships at a naval repairs shipyard and chartering and ops department)

Thanks in advance!

Hi all. looking to connect with a Nav Arch or Marine Engineer PE registered in California. Have a contract coming up and require some registered in the state.

Hey everyone,

I'm looking into building a career in **subsea engineering**, ideally in Australia, and I'm particularly interested in **vessel-based/FIFO roles**. Perth seems like the obvious base, but I'm open to other locations as well.

I'm trying to get a realistic picture of what the career actually looks like rather than relying on company salary figures or LinkedIn posts.

A few things I'd really appreciate input on:

* **Compensation:** What can a subsea engineer realistically earn in Australia at different stages — graduate/junior, \~3–5 years, and senior/lead level? * How much of the advertised compensation is actually **base salary vs offshore/vessel allowances, bonuses, overtime, travel, etc.?** * For someone working predominantly **vessel-based**, what does the actual annual income look like? * **Roster/work-life:** What rosters are common for subsea engineers? 3/3, 4/4, 6/6, or something else? * How much time do you actually spend **away from home** in a typical year? * How much control do you have over taking extended breaks between projects/rotations? * What is the reality of the work when you're offshore/on a vessel? Is it technically interesting, or does it become repetitive/mostly operational after a while? * How physically/mentally demanding is it compared with a conventional engineering office role? * **Career progression:** Does vessel-based subsea experience translate well into senior engineering/project/management roles, or can it pigeonhole you into offshore operations? * How difficult is it to move between companies and projects once you have a few years of relevant experience? * For someone planning to do a **Master's in Australia**, would you recommend targeting subsea/offshore engineering directly, or getting into a broader offshore/oil & gas/energy role first and specialising later? * And finally, how much of a premium does **Perth** actually provide in terms of subsea opportunities and compensation compared with other Australian locations?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who are **currently working in subsea, offshore construction, ROV, SURF, installation, or vessel-based engineering**, rather than general FIFO workers.

I'm not expecting exact salary figures if people don't want to share them — even rough ranges and descriptions of the roster/work-life would be really useful.

Thanks.

Hola! Estoy pensando en estudiar **Náutica y Transporte Marítimo en la Universidade da Coruña (UDC)**.
¿Alguien que estudie o haya estudiado allí puede contarme cómo son los estudios y qué tal son las **salidas laborales** después de graduarse?
También me interesa saber si las clases son principalmente **en español, gallego o inglés**, ya que me interesa especialmente estudiar en inglés.
¡Gracias!

I am currently studying in India btw so anyone who has passed out or is about to pass out and got placement plz let me know

I’m 26 and now 3 years working as a naval architect consultant in Japan. I mainly work on commercial ship but I want to shift to offshore structures, is there any pathway I can follow or roles that I can transition to ?

I’m trying to understand how Marine Warranty Surveyors and related offshore teams handle technical reviews in real projects.

If you’ve worked in MWS, marine assurance, offshore wind T&I, heavy lift, towage, or rig moves, I’d really value your perspective:

1. Which documents or technical submissions usually go through the most review cycles?
2. How are comments, outstanding conditions, and final close-out typically tracked between the surveyor, contractor, client, and underwriter?
3. Which parts of the process still rely heavily on email, spreadsheets, manual checking, or follow-ups?
4. Where does the process tend to become most difficult or time-consuming?
5. Are there parts of the review process that should always remain firmly with the experienced surveyor rather than being automated?

I’m especially interested in real practitioner experience, including cases where common assumptions about the MWS workflow are wrong.

No confidential project or client details, of course. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share.

Hi guys!

I'm a fellow aspiring naval architect and brand new to this community! I wanted to introduce you all to ANCHORAGE '26, a maritime techno-cultural fest happening from October 10th to 12th.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, we’d really appreciate it if you could give our socials a follow TWITTER and LINKEDIN

Following our pages would help us out a lot as we build up to the event! Also, if you have any questions at all about the fest, drop them in the comments below I’d happy to answer them.

Grain code was amended a while ago as per MSC 552(108), and an optional partially filled grain loading condition with untrimmed ends was introduced. Grain loading manual should be revised to include revised grain shifting moments for the partially filled untrimmed condition.

Has anyone been involved with a project of revising the curves? I literally do not know where to start. Is there a software that takes care of the calculation after the cargo hold is designed?

I’m a Naval Architect & Marine Engineer with 14+ years of experience delivering marine projects, installations and commissioning. I want to try self employment, contractual work.

I’m currently looking to connect with marine technology companies, equipment manufacturers, shipowners, shipyards, and maritime startups that need additional project-management or technical delivery capacity on a contract basis.

I can support projects remotely and travel/on-site when required, particularly across Europe and EMEA.

My experience includes:

• Project management from design through installation, commissioning and warranty
• Marine equipment and systems integration
• Wastewater treatment and bilge systems
• Sewage systems
• Fire detection systems
• Gas detection systems
• Coordination between shipyards, owners, suppliers and subcontractors
• Technical problem-solving and project delivery

I’m particularly interested in remote-first, fractional, interim or project-based roles where a company needs an experienced technical person to take ownership of delivery without committing to a permanent hire.

I’d love to hear from anyone who:

• Knows marine-tech startups or scale-ups looking for project-management support
• Works with shipping companies or shipyards that use independent contractors
• Is aware of marine equipment manufacturers needing project managers
• Can recommend recruitment agencies or specialist maritime recruiters
• Has experience finding international contract PM work in the maritime sector

If you know of a company, project, recruiter, or person I should speak with, please comment or send me a DM.

Happy to connect and exchange ideas even if there isn't an immediate opportunity.

Thanks!

I started my internship at a shipyard two days ago. Unfortunately, I was late in choosing a good place to do my internship. So, the shipyard where I am currently doing my internship is not suitable enough for me to learn useful things related to engineering. There is just an old ship, built around 1980, on the slipway. I want to make the most of it, but I do not know what to do. Give me some advice.

I was wiring a browser-side coursework checker and realized this one is easy to miss: Simpson's rule will integrate whatever step you give it.

If the heel step is 10 degrees and you use h = 10 instead of h = 0.1745 rad, every area comes out 57.3 times too large. The GZ curve still looks normal, so the mistake may only show up in the criteria table.

I put the hand-calculation chain and a small cross-checker on the MetaCAD site I'm building: ship stability coursework workflow.

It's for coursework and preliminary checks, not vessel operations. The page shows the substitutions instead of just returning pass/fail.

What other stability-assignment errors have you seen survive a quick visual check?

i am an undergrad Naval Architecture student at Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) in Pakistan. Since there is only one major shipyard in Pakistan, local job opportunities are limited and often offer lower compensation. Are there international job opportunities available for graduates who maintain a strong GPA and have extra technical skills, and how can I apply for them

Actualmente soy estudiante de ingeniería naval y me gustaría saber qué software recomendaríais aprender para ayudarme a crecer profesionalmente.

Hello, I am applying for colleges and my dream job is to work at a naval architecture firm. Ive been looking at colleges, and I was wondering if a degree in naval architecture/Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan would be able to get me a job in the industry from graduation. I've also been looking at the merchant marine academy, but they don't have a naval architecture program, just marine engineering systems, and I am not interested in the commitment to sailing. Excluding monetary concerns related to college.

Curious how people actually learned this.

A lot of explanations jump from GM/KG/KM straight to GZ curves, and beginners get lost between the table and the picture.

Was it a worked hydrostatic table, a physical model, a spreadsheet, software, or just drawing the forces until it made sense?

I’m trying to understand what made it least painful, especially for students or people coming from sea experience.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently planning my path to eventually launch my own high-end, luxury boat brand in the future. My vision is to build powerful, high-performance vessels that combine cutting-edge technology with breathtaking, timeless aesthetics—think elite craftsmanship and pure design.

To make this dream a reality, I know I need the right foundation first. Right now, I'm torn between Germany and Italy for my studies, and I’m trying to figure out which path offers the best combination of top-tier education and lifestyle.

Here is what I’m weighing:

• Italy: The ultimate epicenter of yacht design, classic elegance, and a fantastic lifestyle close to the Mediterranean sea and legendary shipyards.
• Germany: Unmatched engineering precision and heavy technical rigor, plus the advantage of already having a personal network of people there to help me settle in.

For those in the industry, studying naval architecture, or working in transport design:

• Which country offers the best training for someone who wants to focus specifically on luxury and high-performance boats?
• How do they compare in terms of lifestyle and long-term brand credibility?

Any insights, advice, or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated!