What type of plans do contractors use for constructing ships?

Contractors involved in ship construction utilize working plans as they serve as the definitive set of documents that detail the construction process. Working plans encompass all necessary information required by builders to physically construct the ship. This includes detailed layouts, dimensions, materials, and assembly instructions to guide the construction team during the building process.

Working plans are valuable because they translate the design intent into actionable steps. They are often prepared based upon the architectural and design specifications and provide the necessary details for labor, material requirements, and the sequence of operations needed to bring the project to completion.

In contrast, while architectural plans focus on the overall aesthetics and may contain some design specifications of the ship, they do not provide the comprehensive details required for construction. Design plans give a general overview of the design concept but lack the crucial construction details present in working plans. Specification plans detail the characteristics and standards of materials and products needed, but they do not serve as blueprints for construction in the way working plans do.