A commercial-vessel newbuilding RFQ should explain the vessel the owner intends to operate and the scope the owner wants a yard to consider. When design information is incomplete, the brief should make that status visible so that shortlisted yards can respond to the same requirements and open questions.

Gisan Shipyard’s newbuilding page provides the commercial service context. The steps below help organize an initial enquiry without assuming a yard’s design role, procurement scope or available production slot.

Start with the vessel mission and intended use

Describe the proposed vessel type, operating purpose and the service it is intended to perform. State the trading or operating context known at this stage and any owner requirements that affect the concept. A vessel-type label alone does not explain the operating brief.

  • Proposed vessel type and intended cargo, towing or other commercial function, as applicable.
  • Operating area and restrictions already identified by the owner.
  • Target principal particulars, with units and a clear indication of whether they are preliminary or established.
  • Operational or equipment requirements already documented, with their source.
  • The technical and procurement contacts responsible for the enquiry.

Keep a target distinct from a confirmed design value. Where particulars are undecided, describe the decision to be made rather than inserting a number from another vessel or a yard portfolio entry.

State the maturity of the design package

Identify whether the submission contains a concept brief, an outline specification, developed drawings or another documented design stage. List the documents that actually exist. Record their titles, revisions, dates, issuing party and approval status where known.

DNV's specification-review description considers functional requirements alongside general arrangements, main drawings and technical specifications. For an initial RFQ, connect those available documents to the owner’s mission and scope instead of presenting a preliminary drawing as an approved construction package.

Flag conflicting particulars, outstanding design decisions and documents still to be developed. Ask what additional information a yard would need to consider the proposed scope. Do not assume that preparing missing design information or obtaining approvals is included in the quotation.

Define the requested delivery scope

Describe what the owner wants delivered and which elements the owner expects to provide separately. Identify the requested hull, machinery, systems, outfitting and documentation scope at the level supported by the current brief. Distinguish an owner requirement from a responsibility already agreed.

Ask who is expected to develop the design, supply technical information, coordinate approval submissions and respond to review comments. List proposed responsibilities as questions until they have been confirmed. A request for a complete vessel does not, by itself, establish a turnkey arrangement or assign design ownership to the yard.

State any proposed trials, inspection, acceptance and handover documentation requirements already available to the owner. Identify the governing document or decision still needed. The enquiry should not set a universal trial programme, approval route or acceptance rule for every commercial vessel.

Map equipment and procurement interfaces

For major equipment already identified, distinguish a specified maker or model from an option under consideration. Identify available supplier drawings and the information still awaited. State whether procurement is proposed as owner supply, yard supply or an unresolved interface.

  • Who will select and confirm the equipment against the design?
  • Who will supply installation information and coordinate the interfaces?
  • Who is expected to procure, receive and handle the equipment?
  • Who will coordinate proposed supplier attendance, commissioning support and records?
  • What exclusions or supply assumptions should each yard identify in its response?

Record known dependencies and supplier constraints without turning them into a promised build schedule. Equipment listed in an RFQ is proposed scope; its procurement, integration and support responsibilities need confirmation.

Ask about facility suitability and the proposed programme

Use the shipyard facilities page as context for the facility discussion, then ask the yard to address suitability against the proposed vessel and requested work. Identify the facility and organization being considered, the particulars needed for that assessment and any further design information requested.

Share the owner’s desired programme and distinguish it from firm commitments already made. Ask what assumptions a proposed programme depends on, including design decisions, approval inputs and equipment supply. Current suitability, capacity and availability require a specific response; a historical portfolio record does not confirm them.

Use build records for relevant portfolio context

The following Gisan project records identify vessel types and build numbers that can inform an initial portfolio review:

  • SENECA – General Cargo Ship; build number 64.
  • GALATA NB 49 – Chemical Tanker; build number 49.
  • SURI – Tug; build number 62.

Use those entries as newbuilding portfolio evidence. They do not establish design ownership, contractual delivery scope, current class authorization, available slots or a delivery duration for the proposed vessel. They also do not demonstrate unrelated repair or conversion work.

Compare responses against the same technical brief

Give each shortlisted yard the same dated brief and document register. Compare how the responses address vessel mission, design status, requested delivery scope, equipment supply, responsibility boundaries and unresolved inputs. Ask for included, excluded and conditional items to be identified against the same scope references.

Record any assumptions added by a yard and refer revisions back to the common brief. A headline price or target delivery date cannot explain a difference in scope. Separate an initial response from a confirmed agreement on programme, responsibility and acceptance.

Prepare the initial newbuilding enquiry

Assemble a mission and vessel-type summary, target particulars, a register of available drawings and specifications, requested delivery scope, equipment and procurement interfaces, responsibility questions and the owner’s preferred programme. Identify the decisions still open and the information that will follow.

Share the vessel mission, target particulars, available design package and requested scope through Gisan Shipyard's contact page. Include the technical questions that need an initial response before the brief can support a meaningful yard shortlist.