CAD drafting services turn a concept, a survey or a damaged part into accurate, manufacturable engineering drawings. For marine and industrial work you usually need four things: concept design, 3D scanning or reverse engineering, structural calculations, and manufacturing and general arrangement (GA) drawings. In the UK, expect day rates of roughly £250 to £550 for a qualified drafter, with specialist marine and offshore work at the higher end. The biggest cost saver is getting the drawings right first time, which is where sector experience matters far more than raw software skill. EAP Ltd runs a dedicated design office in Southampton offering marine and industrial CAD and design services across the UK and EU.

What are CAD drafting services?

CAD drafting services use computer aided design software to produce precise 2D drawings and 3D models that engineers, fabricators and shipyards can build from. A CAD drafter takes an idea, a hand sketch, a site survey or a physical component and converts it into a controlled technical drawing with exact dimensions, tolerances, materials and notes.

In plain terms, CAD drafting is the bridge between "we need this made" and "here is exactly how to make it." Without a clear drawing, fabrication becomes guesswork, and guesswork on a vessel or an industrial site is expensive.

Good drafting does three jobs at once. It defines the part so it can be manufactured, it records the design so it can be repeated or repaired, and it communicates intent so that welders, machinists and inspectors all work to the same standard.

What is the difference between CAD design and CAD drafting?

People use the terms interchangeably, but they are not the same.

CAD design is the creative and engineering stage. It decides what the part or structure should be, how it should perform, and whether it will withstand the loads placed on it. CAD drafting is the documentation stage. It produces the formal drawings and models that let someone build the design accurately.

On most real projects the two overlap. A strong design office will move from concept through calculation to fully detailed drawings without handing the job between teams, which reduces errors and keeps the design intent intact.

What types of CAD drafting services do marine and industrial projects need?

Marine, offshore and heavy industrial projects rarely need just one drawing. A typical scope includes:

Concept design. Early layouts and options that test whether an idea is feasible before money is committed. This is where problems are cheapest to solve.

3D scanning and reverse engineering. Laser scanning an existing vessel, structure or component to create an accurate point cloud, then rebuilding it as a clean CAD model. Essential when there are no original drawings, which is common on older ships and plant.

Structural calculations. Verifying that beams, brackets, foundations and lifting points can carry their loads. Drawings without calculations are just pictures.

Manufacturing and general arrangement drawings. The detailed fabrication drawings, weld details, bills of material and GA drawings that the workshop actually builds from.

As-built and record drawings. Updated documentation after installation, so future repairs and modifications start from the truth rather than the original plan.

EAP Ltd covers all of these from its Southampton design office, offering concept design, 3D scanning, structural calculations, CAD and manufacturing drawings on a single project.

2D drafting vs 3D modelling vs 3D scanning: which do you need?

Different jobs call for different approaches. This table shows where each one fits.

The right choice is about the project, not the technology. A simple gusset plate does not need a laser scan. A retrofit into a 30 year old vessel almost always does.

How does 3D laser scanning improve marine and offshore CAD?

Older vessels and plant are rarely built exactly as originally drawn. Decades of repairs, modifications and corrosion mean the real structure has drifted from the paperwork, assuming the paperwork still exists at all.

3D laser scanning captures the structure as it actually is, down to millimetre accuracy, and turns it into a point cloud. That data becomes the foundation for a reliable CAD model, so new components fit first time instead of being trimmed and reworked on site. For marine and offshore projects, where a return visit to a vessel can cost far more than the fabrication itself, this accuracy pays for itself quickly.

Reverse engineering works the same way at component level. When a part has failed and there is no drawing, scanning the original lets the design office recreate it precisely, ready for steel or marine fabrication.

What software and standards do professional CAD drafters use?

The tools matter less than how they are used, but competent UK design offices typically work in packages such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor and marine specific tools, alongside point cloud software for scanning work.

More important is the standard the drawings are produced to. Professional technical drawings in the UK are generally prepared to BS 8888, the British Standard for technical product documentation, and international drawing conventions under the ISO 128 family. Marine structures are also produced to satisfy classification societies such as Lloyd's Register, DNV and Bureau Veritas, whose approval is often a condition of the work. Asking a supplier which standards they draw to is a fast way to separate genuine engineering offices from generic drawing services.

How much do CAD drafting services cost in the UK?

Pricing depends on complexity, sector and whether calculations or scanning are involved, so treat the following as indicative rather than a quote.

As a rough guide for UK work, general CAD drafting sits around £25 to £50 per hour, or roughly £250 to £400 per day. Specialist marine, offshore and structural drafting, particularly where structural calculations or class approval are needed, typically runs from £45 to £75 per hour, or around £400 to £550 per day. Fixed price project quotes are common once the scope is clear.

The largest hidden cost is not the drawing rate. It is rework. Drawings that are wrong or incomplete cause wasted material, delayed fabrication and return visits, which routinely dwarf the original design fee. Paying slightly more for an office that gets it right first time is usually the cheaper option overall.

How to choose a CAD drafting company in the UK

Use this checklist when comparing suppliers:

• Sector experience. Marine and offshore work has requirements that generic CAD firms do not deal with day to day. Ask for relevant examples.
• In-house calculations. A supplier who can verify structures, not just draw them, saves you coordinating a separate engineer.
• 3D scanning capability. Vital for retrofits, repairs and undocumented structures.
• Standards and class. Confirm they draw to BS 8888 and can meet the classification society relevant to your vessel.
• Fabrication link. Design offices that also fabricate understand what is actually buildable, which cuts drawing revisions.
• Location and coverage. UK based support with the ability to attend site speeds up surveys and approvals.

EAP Ltd ticks these boxes because its design office sits alongside its fabrication and engineering teams, so drawings are produced by people who also build. See the marine fabrication service for how design flows into manufacture.

Marine and offshore CAD: why sector experience matters

A drawing that is technically neat but ignores how a shipyard works will still cause problems. Marine and offshore CAD has to account for access, weld sequencing, class approval, corrosion allowances and the reality of installing components in cramped spaces on a live vessel.

That is why sector experience is worth more than any single software feature. EAP Ltd works across UK ports and yards, with design based in Southampton and fabrication and engineering teams operating from locations including the North East and Chatham in Kent. Design and build under one roof means fewer handovers and fewer surprises.

Ready to turn your concept into buildable drawings?

Whether you are starting from a sketch, a failed component or an undocumented vessel, EAP Ltd can take it from concept to manufacturing drawings. Talk to the Southampton design team about your project through the design and CAD services page or contact EAP Ltd for a quote.

FAQ

What does CAD stand for?

CAD stands for computer aided design. It refers to software used to create precise 2D drawings and 3D models for engineering and manufacturing.

What is the difference between CAD drafting and CAD modelling?

CAD drafting usually means producing 2D technical drawings, while CAD modelling means building a 3D digital model. Most projects use both, with 2D drawings derived from the 3D model.

Can you create CAD drawings without the originals?

Yes. Using 3D laser scanning and reverse engineering, a design office can capture an existing part or structure accurately and recreate it as a CAD model, even when no original drawings exist.

Do CAD drawings need structural calculations?

For load bearing marine and structural work, yes. Calculations confirm the design is safe and often form part of classification society approval. Drawings without supporting calculations should be treated with caution.

How much do CAD drafting services cost in the UK?

As an indicative guide, general drafting is around £25 to £50 per hour and specialist marine or structural work around £45 to £75 per hour, with fixed price quotes common once the scope is defined.

Does EAP Ltd offer marine CAD services across the UK?

Yes. EAP Ltd runs a dedicated design office in Southampton offering concept design, 3D scanning, structural calculations and manufacturing drawings for clients across the UK and EU.