There is no requirement in English law that an agreement for the construction and sale of a ship should be concluded in writing.1 Provided that the necessary formal elements are present (see below), such a contract will be legally enforceable even if made orally. The expenditure, timescale and risks involved in the building of a ship are, however, invariably sufficient to ensure that the parties will record in writing at least the main terms of their agreement. In practice, most shipbuilding projects are undertaken on the basis of a very detailed contract, specifications and outline plans and drawings of the vessel.