The design of specific equipment installed in ships is usually accomplished by fires other than the Shipbuilder. As a consequence of this situation, the Shipbuilder does not have direct control over a significant portion of the weight of the ship being built. For shipbuilders to have direct control of equipment weights is neither necessary nor desirable. Shipbuilders cannot be experts in the design of all equipment. Control of equipment weight my be maintained in the same manner that any other equipment characteristic is controlled; through specific weight requirements in the technical portion of the Request for Quotation and the Subsequent Purchase Order. The degree of weight control to be specified will be influenced by the cost of that weight control, requirements of the shipbuilding contract, and the sensitivity of the ship’s performance to weight and its distribution.