Shipwright Metal, Machinery & Related Trades Workers
SaveWhat Does a Shipwright Do?
Shipwrights build and repair small type of water vessels from pleasure craft to naval vessels. They prepare preliminary sketches and create templates. They use hand and power tools to construct smaller boat themselves or supervise a team of shipbuilders. They also construct cradles and slipways for the ship's construction, transportation, launching and slipping. Depending on the vessels, they might work with different materials such as metal, wood, fibreglass, aluminium etc.
Resource recommendations may include affiliate links. Learn more
Where Do I Start?
Engineering Principles
The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Shipwright
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
-
EssentialEngineering Principles knowledge
The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
EssentialDesign Drawings knowledge
Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
Recommended Books
1 bookRogers' Drawing and Design -
EssentialEngineering Processes knowledge
The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
EssentialMechanics knowledge
Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
EssentialMechanics Of Vessels knowledge
The mechanics involved in boats and ships. Understand the technicalities and participate in discussions over related topics in order to solve problems related to the mechanics.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
EssentialAdjust Engineering Designs skill
Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialAlign Components skill
Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialApply Health And Safety Standards skill
Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialEnsure Vessel Compliance With Regulations skill
Inspect vessels, vessel components, and equipment; ensure compliance with standards and specifications.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialFasten Components skill
Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialLiaise With Engineers skill
Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialPrepare Pieces For Joining skill
Prepare metal or other material workpieces for joining processes by cleaning the workpieces, checking their measurements with the technical plan and marking on the pieces where they'll be joined.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialRead Engineering Drawings skill
Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialRead Standard Blueprints skill
Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialUse Power Tools skill
Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
EssentialWear Appropriate Protective Gear skill
Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 30 displayed)
-
OptionalCutting Technologies knowledge
The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
Recommended Books
2 booksThe Shipwright's Vade-Mecum [By D. Steel] -
OptionalTypes Of Maritime Vessels knowledge
Know a large variety of maritime vessels and their characteristics and specifications. Use that knowledge to ensure that all security, technical, and maintenance measures are taken into account in their …
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalCAE Software knowledge
The software to perform computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis tasks such as Finite Element Analysis and Computional Fluid Dynamics.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalMaterial Mechanics knowledge
The behaviour of solid objects when subjected to stresses and strains, and the methods to calculate these stresses and strains.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalSanding Techniques knowledge
The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalMetal Forming Technologies knowledge
The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.
-
OptionalPhysical Parts Of The Vessel knowledge
Detailed knowledge of the different physical components of the vessel. Provide maintenance and care to ensure optimal operations.
Recommended Books
2 booksThe Shipwright's Vade-Mecum [By D. Steel] -
OptionalCAD Software knowledge
The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalDefense System knowledge
The various weapons and weapon systems used to protect citizens and to harm or shield incoming enemies and enemy weapons.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalRivet Types knowledge
The various types of rivets used in manufacturing, such as solid head rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, semi-tubular rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalTypes Of Metal knowledge
Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalTypes Of Wood knowledge
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalFibreglass Laminating knowledge
Process of applying multiple layers of fiberglass, a strong lightweight plastic reinforced with glass fibre woven into mats, using various techniques such as applying pressure or adhesives, welding or heating …
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalIndustrial Paint knowledge
The various kinds of paint used as coating in manufacturing finishing processes, such as primers, intermediate coats, finish coats, stripe coats, and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
-
OptionalApply Preliminary Treatment To Workpieces skill
Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalConstruct Moulds skill
Construct moulds for the casting of objects in plaster, clay, glass, plastic or metal. Use casting machines and materials such as rubber, plaster or fibreglass.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalCut Metal Products skill
Operate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalLead A Team skill
Lead, supervise and motivate a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and with the foreseen resources in mind.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalManipulate Wood skill
Manipulate the properties, shape and size of wood.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalOperate Drilling Equipment skill
Operate a range of drilling equipment, pneumatic as well as electrical and mechanical. Tend drilling equipment, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. Safely and efficiently drill holes using the …
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalOperate Handheld Riveting Equipment skill
Operate various kinds of tools and equipment used in riveting processes, such a pin hammer and a rivet set, handheld squeezers, a hammer and bucking bar, a pneumatic hammer, a …
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalOperate Lifting Equipment skill
Transport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalOperate Precision Measuring Equipment skill
Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment …
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalProgram A CNC Controller skill
Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalSand Wood skill
Use sanding machines or hand tools to remove paint or other substances from the surface of the wood, or to smoothen and finish the wood.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalSet Up Automotive Robot skill
Set up and programme an automotive robot working on machine processes and substituting or collaboratively supporting human labour, such as the six-axis automotive robot.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalTend Riveting Machine skill
Tend a metalworking machine designed to join metal pieces by automatically shooting mechanical fasteners, rivets, into them, monitor and operate it according to regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalUse CAD Software skill
Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalUse Welding Equipment skill
Operate welding equipment in a safe manner; use welding techniques such as shielded metal arc welding or flux-cored arc welding.
Course recommendations coming soon.
-
OptionalUse Painting Equipment skill
Use brushes, rollers, spray guns and other painting equipment in accordance with the work.
Course recommendations coming soon.