Graham and Woolnough Naval Architects

In business since 1918, Graham & Woolnough have offered a professional design service from a small but efficient design team. Our clients benefit from direct and concentrated attention throughout the project.

Experience over the years has shown the value in preparing detailed design drawings and specifications, based on careful calculation before putting a project out to tender.

Graham & Woolnough will develop the requirements of the owners technical representatives while indicating the limitations that may be encountered on a particular design facet. To assist the owner to assess the likely scale of his commitment, Graham & Woolnough can provide an approximation of the proposal of the costs of a vessel before tenders are invited.

When a project has unusual or unique design considerations, Graham & Woolnough favour carrying out a feasibility study at the beginning of a project when initial concepts are considered and an initial design produced. Where the parameters of design are restrained, we are able to determine the practicalities of the proposal, and if necessary, either abort the design or develop a different concept.

Tender designs by Graham & Woolnough are prepared to ensure that Shipbuilders all quote on the basis of the same specifications, allowing the most suitable contractor to be chosen for the project.

General Arrangements
Machinery Arrangement
Lines Plan
Scantling Sections
Hull Specification
Machinery specification
Electrical Specification

Calculations such as hydrostatic data, stability and trim, speed and power, electrical load schedules, weight estimates, and structural calculations are prepared. This assists when the Tender Documents are returned for analysis.

Design, Drawings, Calculations & Specifications for Tender

Following analysis of tenders, a building contract is placed with the successful shipyard. It is usual for a visit to be made by Graham & Woolnough in the early stages to discuss the building programme, and to confirm schedules and stage payments. Arrangements are made for all detailed drawings, and variations to Contract, to be sent to our offices for approval. Regular visits are made to the yard by Graham & Woolnough`s technical staff. It is our practice to produce a report on each visit, with photographs, the extent of report and frequency of visits depending on the technical complexity of the vessel under construction. Most of the Supervision of Construction for which the company is responsible follows the completion of their own design, however circumstances have arisen in the past where supervision of other designs has been undertaken.

Graham & Woolnough are usually able to give a fixed price fee for design. If the company carries out a feasibility study , this is usually deducted from the main design cost and if and when the design proceeds. It can be more difficult to give a fixed price for supervision of construction, but once Graham and Woolnough know where the vessel is to be built , the Company can usually quote per visit and can indicate costs for all plan approval work, administration and discussions.


In business since 1918, Graham & Woolnough have offered a professional design service from a small but efficient design team. Our clients benefit from direct and concentrated attention throughout the project.

Experience over the years has shown the value in preparing detailed design drawings and specifications, based on careful calculation before putting a project out to tender. Graham & Woolnough will develop the requirements of the owners technical representatives while indicating the limitations that may be encountered on a particular design facet. To assist the owner to assess the likely scale of his commitment, Graham & Woolnough can provide an approximation of the proposal of the costs of a vessel before tenders are invited. When a project has unusual or unique design considerations, Graham & Woolnough favour carrying out a feasibility study at the beginning of a project when initial concepts are considered and an initial design produced. Where the parameters of design are restrained, we are able to determine the practicalities of the proposal, and if necessary, either abort the design or develop a different concept. Tender designs by Graham & Woolnough are prepared to ensure that Shipbuilders all quote on the basis of the same specifications, allowing the most suitable contractor to be chosen for the project.


General Arrangements Machinery Arrangement Lines Plan Scantling Sections Hull Specification Machinery specification Electrical Specification Calculations such as hydrostatic data, stability and trim, speed and power, electrical load schedules, weight estimates, and structural calculations are prepared. This assists when the Tender Documents are returned for analysis.




Following analysis of tenders, a building contract is placed with the successful shipyard. It is usual for a visit to be made by Graham & Woolnough in the early stages to discuss the building programme, and to confirm schedules and stage payments. Arrangements are made for all detailed drawings, and variations to Contract, to be sent to our offices for approval. Regular visits are made to the yard by Graham & Woolnough`s technical staff. It is our practice to produce a report on each visit, with photographs, the extent of report and frequency of visits depending on the technical complexity of the vessel under construction. Most of the Supervision of Construction for which the company is responsible follows the completion of their own design, however circumstances have arisen in the past where supervision of other designs has been undertaken.


Graham & Woolnough are usually able to give a fixed price fee for design. If the company carries out a feasibility study , this is usually deducted from the main design cost and if and when the design proceeds. It can be more difficult to give a fixed price for supervision of construction, but once Graham and Woolnough know where the vessel is to be built , the Company can usually quote per visit and can indicate costs for all plan approval work, administration and discussions.