This paper gives an overview of the application of formal optimization in ship de- sign, refit of ships and operational procedures. The application cases are taken from industrial practice and recent research projects, reflecting the state of the art and near-future trends. In design, the focus is on hull optimization, based on full-scale free-surface RANSE simulations with working propeller in calm water (“numerical sea trials”). In refits, formal optimization for bulbous bows for different operational profile (in slow-steaming and partially loaded con- ditions) is shown to give unexpectedly large saving potential. In operation, trim optimization and weather routing are widely used applications. Recent progress in prediction of added re- sistance in waves benefits both w ather routing and future hull optimization under considera-

tion of added resistance in waves.