Nephi and his brethren and other members of the colony now applied themselves to the work of construction of the ship, in accordance with the instructions Nephi received from time to time of the Lord.
Like all Hebrews of that time, they were, no doubt, somewhat familiar with ships and ship building. There was a navigable lake in Palestine, the Sea of Galilee. Smaller boats and larger craft were constantly plying its sometimes turbulent waves. They were familiar with the extensive Phoenician shipping. Hiram, king of Tyre, delivered at the port of Jaffa the timber that was cut in the Lebanon mountains for the temple of Solomon. (11)
In the account by Luke of the voyage of St. Paul to Rome (Acts 27:17), to keep them from being broken up. They were equipped with anchors, and a boat for communication with the shore, when at anchor. Also with sounding lines. Navigation consisted mostly in following the shores, or, at night, the stars. The captain was the navigator, and the officer who had charge of the steering apparatus was called the "governor."