Shipbuilders operate shipyards, which are fixed facilities with dry docks and fabrication equipment capable of building a ship. A ship is defined as watercraft typically suitable or intended for use other than for personal or recreational purposes. Shipyard activities include ship construction, repair, conversion and alteration; the production of prefabricated ship and barge sections; and specialized services, such as ship scaling. Over the past five years, the Ship Building industry has slowly as demand from the military and commercial markets fluctuated. Industry operators design and build ships and other vessels for defense agencies and commercial shipping companies. Industry players also provide support services, such as ship repair, maintenance, conversion, refurbishment, life-cycle extensions and modernization. Despite the recession, the industry was initially able to continue growing as strong demand from the US Navy and long project lead times kept shipyards busy. However, the recession did reduce commercial orders, eventually translating into reduced work in subsequent years.
