Ocean-going ships in Britannia are quite formidable. Even the smallest will hold six characters comfortably and more than a dozen with some crowding, while the largest ships can easily accommodate dozens of passengers and crew.
Types of Ship
There are many ships available in UO. Some types of ships may be added to the game over time, and some may be removed. Please check the Traveller’s Guide on the website for the latest update of available ships.
Launching & Boarding Your Ship
Ships are bought and built much like houses. A ship is purchased from a shipwright, who gives you a deed which must be Used by the ocean shore to build the actual ship. Make sure that when you build your ship, you do so in a location from which you can actually reach the ocean! Ships cannot, for example, pass bridges.
When your ship is created, the key will be placed in your Backpack and a duplicate placed in your safe deposit box for safekeeping. You can lock the gangplank to your ship.
To come aboard or disembark from a ship, click on the side of the ship to extend the gangplank (you can retract the gangplank by clicking on it again). Double-click on the gangplank to come aboard, or just walk off it to go ashore.
Ships can be commanded by any PC on board (see Navigation, below), and they can be boarded from any other nearby ship; therefore it is vital for you to hire enough guards to protect your ship from strangers when you’re not around.
Ships can carry cargo. The cargo hold is a container, like a huge Backpack. You can put lots of stuff in a cargo hold, but you can’t stay in it yourself. All characters on board a ship stay out on the decks for the duration of the trip.
Harbormasters
To protect your ship and avoid crowding in busy ports, you can hire a harbormaster to dock your ship for you. To dock your ship, find a harbormaster and say “dock” to him (your ship must be located near the harbor in question). He will charge 25 gold for this service, your ship will vanish from the waterway and you will be given a claim ticket.
To redeem your ticket, return to the same harbor and Use the ticket as you would a ship deed. Your ship will reappear at that spot.
Ships do not deteriorate while in dock. However, your claim ticket can be stolen, and if it’s stolen you can no longer get your ship out of dock – but the thief can.
My Ship is Not Where I Left It / I Cannot Board It
You need to be sure that you drop anchor, and lock both sides of the ship, or it can be stolen. If you are on the ship, the gangplank will open when Used, but will remain locked. You must have the key, or a copy of the key to re-open the plank once ashore.
Like houses, ships that have been abandoned by their owners for three real-time days will decay from disuse and lack of maintenance.
Naming your ship
You can name your ship by telling your Tillerman "Set Name Text" where Text is the name you select. The Tillerman can also “Remove Name” or tell you the ship’s name if you ask "Name."
