What a Shipyard Does

Have you ever wondered what goes on at a shipyard? Well, let me tell you all about it!

At a shipyard, I get to witness some incredible things. One of the main things we do here is build ships from scratch. It’s a fascinating process that involves a lot of hard work and skilled craftsmanship.

First, we start with the design phase. This is where all the planning happens. We have to take into account various factors, such as the ship’s purpose, size, and intended use. Once the design is finalized, we move on to the construction stage.

During the construction phase, we use a variety of tools and materials to bring the ship to life. From welding and riveting to painting and finishing, every step is crucial. It’s like putting together an enormous puzzle, where every piece has to fit perfectly.

At the shipyard, safety is our top priority. We follow strict guidelines and regulations to ensure the well-being of everyone involved. We take precautions to prevent accidents and maintain a safe working environment.

Once the ship is complete, it’s time for testing and inspection. We want to make sure that everything is shipshape before it sets sail. This involves thorough checks and trials to ensure the ship meets all the necessary standards and requirements.

In addition to building ships, shipyards also perform a wide range of other activities. We offer repairs and maintenance services for vessels that need a little TLC. We also have dry docks where ships can be brought ashore for inspections and repairs.

I love working at the shipyard because every day is different. It’s a dynamic and challenging environment that requires teamwork and expertise. Seeing the final product sail away is incredibly rewarding, knowing I played a part in its creation.

So, the next time you see a ship sailing on the sea, think about all the hard work and dedication that went into building it. Shipyards are the unsung heroes of the maritime industry, and I’m proud to be a part of this incredible world.

Hey there! Let’s talk about ship-building in this game. We’ve got a whole bunch of Ship Cards up for grabs – we’ve got bows, middles, and sterns. You’ve got 20 cards to choose from – 5 bows, 10 middles, and 5 sterns.

Now, when it comes to buying these Ship Cards, you’ve got some options. You can go for one, two, or three cards, any combination you like. Of course, each card comes with a price tag. The cost is indicated at the bottom of the cards. The ones at the bottom are free, while the middle ones cost 1 guilder, and the ones closest to the card decks cost 2 guilders. So, it’s all about how much you’re willing to spend!

Alright, let’s talk ship-building. You see, these Ship Cards aren’t just fancy decorations. Nope, their job is to help you build some awesome ships. A completed ship has a bow on the left, a stern on the right, and a bunch of middle cards in between. No empty spaces allowed! Oh, and you’ve gotta have at least one middle card in there, too.

Now, let’s get down to business. When you buy Ship Cards, you’ve gotta put ’em somewhere, right? Well, that somewhere is your Shipyard. There are a few rules you’ve gotta follow:

• First things first, the new cards you buy need to go in empty spaces. No cramming them into already filled spots, okay?

Hey there! Let me break it down for you. Here are a few things you need to know about managing your Shipyard:

• First off, you can’t rearrange or move the cards within the Shipyard. The only way to create some space for new cards is by completing a ship. Remember though, completed ships don’t leave the yard until step 5.
• Secondly, you can’t fill up all the empty spaces in your Shipyard unless you have at least one completed ship as the end result.
• You also need to be mindful of where you play your cards. You can’t place a card in a spot that would make it impossible for it to become part of a completed ship. However, it’s perfectly legal to add on to ships that still need another ship to leave before they can be completed.

Just a quick note – you don’t have to connect the Ship Cards to the ones already in the Shipyard. You can spread a ship across the yard in different pieces if you like!

If you manage to complete at least one ship during this action, you’ll have the opportunity to take it out on a Shakedown Cruise at the end of your turn.

Here’s a tip for you: All Ship Cards aren’t the same. The differences you see in the illustrations aren’t just for show. To learn what the lifebuoys, lifeboats, lanterns, cabins, and mounts mean, you should read the Shakedown Cruise chapter.

Once you have placed all your new Ship Cards in your Shipyard, slide the cards on the Game Board down into the empty spots so that only the tops of the columns are empty. Fill these spaces with new cards from the corresponding decks. Keep in mind that the newest cards will be the most expensive.

Hey there! Let’s talk about an important aspect of the game. It’s called Purchase Commodities. Sounds fancy, right? But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds!

First things first, let me explain how the game works. You see, there are two columns of cards in the middle. Each column is separate, so if you take some cards from one column, it will create empty spaces at the top. But don’t worry, both columns will be refilled from the same deck. So there’s always a fresh supply of cards!

Now, let’s get down to business. When you choose to Purchase Commodities, you must take at least one Ship Card from the Game Board. It’s mandatory! But here’s the catch – if you’re low on funds, you can grab one or more of the free Ship Cards. Pretty cool, right? But wait, there’s more!

Here’s the rule – you can only take cards that you can legally play. Makes sense, doesn’t it? So if you’re stuck with no legal moves, you can’t choose this action. Don’t worry though, there are always other options!

So remember, when it’s time to Purchase Commodities, make sure you grab a Ship Card from the Game Board. If you’re strapped for cash, you can snatch those free Ship Cards. Just make sure you’re playing by the rules, or else it’s a no-go!

By making this move, you’ll be purchasing one of the five Freight Trains that are up for grabs. The price for the train is stated on the card. Don’t forget that the card at the bottom of the column is free, so keep an eye out for it.

To execute this action, simply slide the cards in the column down to fill the gap left by the purchased train. A new card will then be dealt and placed at the top of the column. This means that the newest card will be the most expensive one.

If all the cards in the deck run out, just shuffle the used cards together and create a new deck.

Here’s a helpful tip: You have the option to trade in your Freight Train at the Commodities Exchange. You can exchange it for guilders, Equipment, or Crew. This is a separate action, and I’ll explain how it works in just a moment.

Now, let’s move on to the next action, which is Rent Canal.

When you take this action, you’re purchasing one of the 5 Shipping Canals that are available. It’s a simple process – you just need to pay the indicated number of guilders and place the Canal card in front of you. Make sure to position it in a way that extends your existing canal system.

After that, you need to slide the remaining Canals down the column. This will create an empty space at the top, where you’ll deal a new Canal card. If there are no more Canals left, don’t worry. Just collect the used Canals, keeping in mind how many each player has, and shuffle them together to create a fresh deck.

If this is your first Canal, you’ll need to place your ship figure on one of the spaces along the edge. The stern of your ship should be pointing out of the Canal, as if it has just sailed in. This is where your first Shakedown Cruise begins – an exciting adventure awaits!

When it comes to building a canal system, it’s crucial to ensure that each new canal is connected in a way that aligns with the existing cards. Unfortunately, you don’t have the flexibility to rearrange or manipulate the canals once they are set, including the ship figure.

The canals serve the purpose of earning points for your ships during the Shakedown Cruise. For a detailed understanding of the symbols and their meanings, refer to the corresponding chapter.

Tip: To optimize your canal system, it’s essential to choose canals that complement the ships you are constructing.

Manufacture Equipment

When you take this action, you get to choose one piece of Equipment. First, move the Manufacture Equipment marker one space clockwise around the brown ring. The marker shows which piece of Equipment you can get for free.

If you want a different piece of Equipment, you can move the marker clockwise around the ring. But each move will cost you 1 guilder. So, the price for a different piece can be 1, 2, or 3. The most expensive piece is the one the figure started on. Don’t forget to take the piece from the bank.

You store Equipment in your Shipyard. When one of your ships is ready for its Shakedown Cruise, you can attach the Equipment to it. Once attached, the Equipment will stay with that ship for the rest of the game.

Here’s a tip: make sure to choose Ship Cards and Equipment that go well together. They need to match each other.

Recruit Crew is like Manufacture Equipment, but instead of moving counterclockwise around the blue circle, you move clockwise around the spaces of the green circle. In this game, there are three spaces where you can choose Crew members, and one space where you can take a propeller.

Here’s a tip: Make sure you have at least one captain in your Shipyard before you finish building a ship. Without a captain, your ship won’t earn you any points. Remember, every Crew Member (except the captain) needs a cabin. If you want to have extra crew members on your ship, make sure to choose Ship Cards that have cabins.

Hire Employee

When you take this action, you’ll receive an Employee Card. Employees are essential for various tasks, like producing extra Equipment, recruiting more Crew, assigning Crew or Equipment to your ships, or getting better deals.

First, you’ll move the marker one space forward on the Employee Track (the red oval). If you want, you can spend guilders to move the marker even further around the track (one guilder for each additional space) until it reaches the desired space.

Each space on the track represents three Employees. Choose the one you need.

Note: Some Employees have additional charges: if you select an Engineer (brown card) or a Recruiter (green card), you must pay one extra guilder.

You can’t select an Employee that you already have. However, it’s permissible to have two Recruiters, for instance, as long as they serve different functions.

Imagine a group of employees, right in front of you. They’re there to work for you throughout the game, offering you many benefits.

Trade Goods

When you use this action, you trade in one Freight Train Card. You have a choice for each commodity on the train – you can sell it for guilders or exchange it for Equipment or Crew. But remember, if you don’t have any Freight Train cards, you can’t choose this action.

To start, you need to move the marker one space clockwise around the Exchange hexagon. This tells you the current prices for the commodities. And just so you know, you can’t pay to move the marker extra spaces.

Now it’s time to decide which Freight Train you want to exchange. If there are cars on the train, you can either sell the cargo for the amount of guilders shown by the marker, or you can trade the cargo for one of the items on the table in the center of the hexagon.

When it comes to the train cars, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do the same thing with each one. In fact, you can’t exchange two train cars for the same piece of Equipment or Crew. Let me give you an example. If you have two loads of coal, you can exchange one for a propeller and one for a smokestack. However, you can’t exchange both loads for two smokestacks. But here’s the cool part – you can choose to sell one or both loads for guilders!

Tip: If you want to be successful, one of the key things to understand is when to manufacture or recruit, and when to look for Equipment or Crew at the Exchange. It’s like a secret to triumph!

Receive Subsidy

Hey there! Just a heads up, you’ll only be able to do this in a four-player game. Whenever you decide to do it, you’ll get some extra cash – 2 guilders, to be exact – straight from the bank.