Lifecycle thumb|right|Lines plan for the hull of a basic cargo ship thumb|MS Freedom of the Seas under construction in a shipyard in Turku. A ship will pass through several stages during its career. The first is usually an initial contract to build the ship, the details of which can vary widely based on relationships between the shipowners, operators, designers and the shipyard. Then, the design phase carried out by a naval architect. Then the ship is constructed in a shipyard. After construction, the vessel is launched and goes into service. Ships end their careers in a number of ways, ranging from shipwrecks to service as a museum ship to the scrapyard.
Lifecycle thumb|right|Lines plan for the hull of a basic cargo ship thumb|MS Freedom of the Seas under construction in a shipyard in Turku. A ship will pass through several stages during its career. The first is usually an initial contract to build the ship, the details of which can vary widely based on relationships between the shipowners, operators designers and the shipyard. Then, the design phase carried out by a naval architect Then the ship is constructed in a shipyard. After construction, the vessel is launched and goes into service Ships end their careers in a number of ways, ranging from shipwrecks to service as a museum ship to the scrapyard.