This book explores the foundations of ship design, focusing on methodologies for the preliminary design of ships. It includes a comprehensive bibliography on ship design and several appendices featuring useful charts for selecting the main dimensions and other basic characteristics of various types and sizes of ships (Appendix A). Additionally, it covers the determination of hull form using systematic hull form series data (Appendix B), a detailed explanation of the relational method for preliminary ship weight estimation (Appendix C), a concise review of the historical evolution of shipbuilding science and technology from the prehistoric era to the present (Appendix D), and a historical overview of regulatory developments in ship damage stability (Appendix E). The present second edition incorporates more recent scientific, technological, and regulatory advancements in ship design and maritime transport. It specifically addresses the introduction of holistic approaches and optimization in ship design, as well as the impact of the latest international regulations concerning the decarbonization of shipping. This edition also includes two additional appendices: the holistic optimisation of ship design with an innovative tanker design case study (Appendix F) and a multi-authored State of the Art report of ship design in the era of digital transition (Appendix G). This book serves as a textbook for ship design courses and as supplementary reading for university and college students in naval architecture and related disciplines. It also functions as a reference for naval architects, practicing engineers in related fields, and ship officers seeking a systematic introduction to the broader field of ship design or practical methodologies for estimating ship dimensions, properties, and design elements.