Naval ship codes and construction standards

Is there a set of standards governing naval ship construction choices?

Yes. NATO's ANEP-77 Naval Ship Code and classification-society rules provide extensive standards for structure, certification, fire safety, and weapons arrangements.

NATO's multipart Naval Ship Code, ANEP-77, sits alongside classification rules published by organizations such as Lloyd's Register. These documents cover structural design, certification, fire safety, and weapons placement. Their several parts run to hundreds of pages. Publication also allows shipbuilders outside NATO to study the requirements, giving the standards an influence beyond the alliance.