16 Stunning Ship Tattoo Designs With Their Meanings

If you thought ship tattoos were just for sailors, you are in for a surprise! While they do represent a person’s love for sailing and navigating the open seas, ship tattoos have deeper meanings. They symbolize a person’s resilience to weather life’s storms and simple concepts, such as adventure, strength, and freedom. No wonder that numerous people are adorning their bodies with ship tattoo designs. Another reason that makes these tattoos so popular is their design varieties. From historic sailing vessels and ghost ships to modern yachts and realistic boats, you can customize them to match your mood. In this article, we will look at some of the best ship tattoo designs that might tickle your fancy and understand the symbolism associated with them. Read on to get inspired!

Meaning Of Ship Tattoos

Ship tattoos are usually associated with sailors or maritime explorers. However, apart from this, they may have several meanings and interpretations. Here are some of the most common meanings:

• Adventure: Ships symbolize adventure and exploration and represent a desire to achieve new experiences or personal growth.
• Security: Ships sail in hostile open waters to reach their destination. Therefore, ship tattoos reaching the shore may represent security. They may also symbolize homecoming.
• Freedom: Sailing ships symbolize freedom and independence. Tattoos of ships may represent the idea of breaking free from constraints and exploring new horizons.
• Hard Work: There is a popular idiom that goes, “My ship has come in.” If your tattoo features these words or a ship reaching its final destination, it could represent the fruits of your hard work or becoming successful or wealthy.
• Strength: Since ships navigate through rough waters and storms to complete their journey, they symbolize resilience and strength. A ship tattoo represents your ability to overcome obstacles in life with these qualities.
• Troubled Past: If your tattoo features a ship in a storm, it could represent your troubled past. The tattoo can remind you that storms are always followed by bright and better days.
• New Beginnings: A tattoo featuring a ship leaving the horizon represents a new journey or beginning full of adventures, lessons, and growth.
• Faith: In Christianity, a ship symbolizes safety and faith. Therefore, a ship tattoo can represent your belief in your religion.

The meaning of ship tattoos may also vary with their designs, styles, and additional elements and motifs. They may also depend on your personal interpretation. If you are looking for some of the best ship tattoo designs with their suggestive meaning, check out the section below.

Top 16 Ship Tattoo Ideas

Ship tattoos are a perfect way to show your inclination toward ideas, such as adventure, exploration, and freedom. They come in many designs and are ideal for both men and women. Here are some such designs with their respective meanings:

1. Kraken Ship Tattoo

This tattoo depicts a giant Kraken, a legendary sea monster from Scandinavian folklore, engulfing a ship. The Kraken is shown as a giant, tentacled creature, with its head at the bottom of the ship and its tentacles wrapped around it. This tattoo of a Kraken with a ship is a highly detailed and striking design on the arm. It symbolizes the unknown forces and represents the challenges one might face in life.

2. Ship Tattoo On Forearm

The minimalist ship design on the forearm looks simple and elegant. The tattoo is done in black ink and features solid ink fills and shading, which enhances the beauty of this classic design. The ship seems to sail smoothly on the steady waves beneath it. The design symbolizes security and the freedom to explore more. It can also be considered a representation of one’s adventurous spirit and celebration of new beginnings.

3. Ship Tattoo On Shoulder

This dotwork-style tattoo of a ship sailing smoothly on the ocean is a visual treat. The shading and precise outlining, with attention to detail, ensure the design is clear and clean. The shading on the design features intricate dots in varying intensities, which creates a textured effect. The ship seems to be sailing on a calm sea. This tattoo is an ideal choice for those who love the ocean and adventure. This design symbolizes one’s love for exploration.

4. Ship Tattoo On Wrist

Getting a tattoo on the wrist is one of the best ways to make it noticeable. And this ship tattoo in black ink is surely a head-turner. The tattoo depicts a galleon ship in great detail – the sails, mast, and hull are captured precisely. The dotwork-style shading adds depth to the design and overall, creates a visually pleasing image of a ship at sea. Whether it is adventure, new beginnings, or freedom, this design can effortlessly represent these values. If you admire small yet detailed designs, this one is perfect.

5. Ship Tattoo On Thigh

The thigh is a bold and beautiful placement choice, especially for medium to large-scale designs. This ship tattoo is done in watercolor style on the thigh and looks absolutely ethereal. The soft washes of blue, orange, pink blend beautifully to create a dream-like blurry effect and a visually appealing design. The splash of blue beneath the ship may represent the rough waves, which seem to crash against the ship. The design symbolize how life remains beautiful, even though it can be adventurous and challenging at times.

6. Ship Tattoo On Chest

The ship sailing majestically on the sea inked on a man’s chest is a very calming design. The design is inked in watercolor style and the splashes of blue and purple creates a fluid design, similar to a painting. The carefully detailing, along with the vibrant colors, makes it even more appealing. This tattoo is a perfect way to express your love for the ocean and adventure.

7. Ship Anchor Tattoo

The black and gray anchor tattoo is a classic symbol, representing a ship or sailor. This motif is a symbol of stability and resilience in tough times, as anchors are used to secure a ship. Whether you admire nautical themed designs or love sailing, this tattoo can be a meaningful choice. It is placed on the chest and features subtle shading. It is sure to turn heads.

8. Traditional Tattoo Ship

The vibrant ship tattoo with a vintage-style frame, decorated with green and red floral details evokes the nostalgic charm of the 1950s. The blue sky in the background and the vibrant floral details add a hint of vintage elegance. The bold lines and vivid colors highlight the bright side of life and reminds of one’s journey of discovery.

9. Ship And Compass Tattoo

This is the perfect nautical-themed tattoo. It features a sailing ship on the upper arm with its sails caught in the wind, representing the idea of freedom. The water below it depicts an ocean of possibilities. It is followed by wave-like patterns that cover the rest of the arm. You can also notice a compass that symbolizes direction and navigation. Overall, this nautical tattoo is a perfect symbol of exploration, guidance, and adventure.

10. Realistic Ship Tattoo

The ship in this design is portrayed with billowing sails that symbolize freedom and determination. It is sailing in an open sea with waves rolling beneath it, hinting at the endless possibilities that life throws our way. The shading on the sails and the ship’s body emphasize the beauty of the design, adding depth and dimension to them. This realistic depiction of the ship represents the courage to navigate uncharted waters to make the most of life.

11. Pirate Ship Tattoo

Be it legends, myths, or Hollywood movies, pirates are everywhere. And they are incomplete without their ships. This tattoo features the ship with billowing sails, ropes, and the Jolly Roger – the flag with a skull and crossbones, symbolizing rebellion. The visually striking bold lines and contrast between the heavy shading and negative space create a strong impact. Overall, the tattoo reminds the wearer to seize life’s opportunities with the courage and determination of the pirates.

12. Viking Ship Tattoo

Here is a tattoo of a Viking longship! It looks stunning with its iconic curved prow adorned with a dragon head and intricate carvings. A sea with turbulent waves surrounds the ship, conveying the danger and excitement of Viking exploration. Overall, this black-and-gray Viking ship tattoo design represents strength, adventure, courage, and resilience.

13. Sunken Ship Tattoo

If you love colored tattoos, check out this one covered in hues of indigo and teal. The realistic design features shadows, highlights, aquatic flora, and fauna to create a stunning underwater effect. The sunken ship’s bottom is covered with sea moss and its body is intricately detailed to showcase signs of damage. This tattoo symbolizes the beauty found in decay.

14. Ship Wheel Tattoo

If you need a simple tattoo to pay tribute to your love for sailing or the sea, this ship wheel design is perfect. It features a black and gray palette with a shadow-like effect along the lines that add depth and dimension to the design. Along with your connection to the ocean, the tattoo symbolizes navigation and control. It will remind you of your ability to steer your life in the desired direction.

15. Ghost Ship Tattoo

Here is a piece with a muted palette dominated by shades of black and gray with hints of brownish hue. It features a ship that is intricately detailed and appears ancient. It is adrift on turbulent waves and the sky above it is covered by dark fog. You can also notice a ghostly skull face in the shadows, reminding us of a grim reaper. The tattoo embodies a sense of mystery and symbolizes the inevitability of fate.

16. Ship In A Bottle Tattoo

This tattoo features a maritime scene enclosed in a glass bottle. The scene captures an intricately detailed ship sailing in the sea with a cloudy sky in the background. This represents the boundless possibilities that come with adventure. Further, the enclosure of the scene in the bottle symbolizes craftsmanship and the patience required to achieve it.

Ship tattoos are popular for their aesthetic appeal and rich symbolism. They resonate deeply with anyone who yearns for adventure, exploration, and freedom. However, the symbolism associated with ship tattoos goes beyond that. They may also symbolize personal growth, security, success, resilience, and strength. For some, they may represent leaving the troubled past behind and embracing new beginnings. Every ship tattoo design can tell a unique story, reflecting deep meanings tied to life journeys, aspirations, and experiences. When choosing your design, consider how it aligns with your personal values and dreams. These tattoos can be customized to accommodate people of all ages and genders. We hope this list has inspired you to find your next ink!

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Ashutosh BairagiProfessional Tattoo Artist

     

Ashutosh Bairagi graduated from RGPV, Bhopal in May 2019, where he completed his undergraduate program in Electrical Engineering. This was where he developed his interest in designing and learnt about the different types of art forms and digital tools used in the art industry.

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Gracia OdileBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Gracia Odile is a teacher-turned-beauty and lifestyle writer with three years of professional experience. She has a bachelor's degree in English from St. Stephen's College, a master's in Anthropology from the University of Madras, and a degree in education from GGSIPU.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Pahul NanraBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Pahul Nanra is a content writer with a penchant for all things fashion and beauty. She has two years of experience in writing across beauty and lifestyle genres. She is an English Honors graduate from Delhi University with a diploma in Fashion Designing from YMCA.

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