The next step is to install places for your crew to live and work. The basic equipment spaces includes a bridge (with stations equal to half your vessel's Linear Value, to a maximum of ten), but all other spaces will need to be installed separately.

A warship will require a number of crewmembers equal to its Area Value (rounded up), and many ships will carry a few extras. Of these, ten percent—possibly more—will be commissioned officers, and another fifteen to twenty percent will be non-commissioned officers (traditionally called petty officers in naval service). The remainder will be enlisted crew. These numbers assume that the warship is running a watch-in-three (that is, each crewmember spends one-third of their time working, and two-thirds off duty). For a watch-in-four, which is usual only during wartime, increase the total crew complement by 25%.

Civilian ships require far fewer crew members. This is partially because civilian ships do not require tactical departments or damage control, but also because civilian skippers are more willing to rely on automation. The crew requirements for a civilian ship are equal to its Area Value divided by four (still rounded up, so a minimum of one).

Small craft frequently do not carry every crewmember they need aboard, preferring instead to leave many crewmembers at base. This makes it more difficult to repair a small craft while under way, but is more economical, both in terms of operating costs and in terms of cubage aboard the vessel. Divide the crew requirement for a small craft by three (still rounding up, so still a minimum of one).