Rust Naval Update: Set Sail with Modular Boats, Ghost Ships, and Deep Sea PvP

The oceans of Rust just got deadly. With the launch of the Naval Update, Facepunch has completely overhauled how players interact with the sea. We're not just talking better boats - we're talking buildable warships, AI-controlled patrols, Floating Cities, and an entirely new biome in the Deep Sea.

If you've been waiting for Rust's oceans to finally matter, your time has come. Here's everything you need to know about the Naval Update Rust players have been hyped for - now fully live as of February 5, 2026.

Build Your Own Boat (For Real This Time)

The standout feature of the update is player-made, modular boats. This isn't just adding a turret to a tugboat - you build your vessel from scratch, piece by piece.

Boat Building 101:

1. Place a Boat Building Station in the water.

2. Use the Boat Building Plan to begin constructing with boat-specific parts.

3. Customize with components like:

• Helm (steering wheel with code lock)

• Engine (fast but fuel-hungry)

• Sails (eco-friendly and surprisingly nimble)

• Anchors (to stop drifting)

• Cannons (because it's Rust, of course)

• Planks and Ramps (for boarding enemies or hitting land)

4. Once deployed, boats can be edited using Deploy & Edit Mode (but not in Deep Sea).

Tip: Engine and sail placement directly impacts handling. Lopsided boats are funny - until you're being chased.

You can also place regular deployables on boats - if it works on the Tugboat, it works here. Think beds, boxes, turrets, even repair benches.

Deep Sea Biome: PvP and PvE Collide

The Deep Sea isn't just more water - it's a full biome designed to be high risk, high reward.

Key Deep Sea Features:

1. Accessible only via strong boats (like RHIBs, PT Boats, or your custom builds)

2. No base building, and loot doesn't respawn

3. Opens and closes like a timed world event

4. Hosts all new points of interest:

• Tropical Islands

• Floating Cities

• Ghost Ships

• AI Scientist Patrol Boats

This isn't a safe commute - the Deep Sea is full of hostile AI and other players gunning for the same loot. Pack extra fuel, bring friends, and don't go AFK.

Ghost Ships & PvE Loot Events

Scattered across the Deep Sea are Ghost Ships - stationary loot-filled wrecks guarded by Scientist AI both onboard and nearby in patrol boats.

What to Expect:

• Stationary ships packed with loot

• Locked crates that require time to hack

• Guarded by AI both on deck and in escort boats

• Real PvP hotspots - you'll rarely be alone out there

These ships reward bold players, but expect resistance. Between roaming patrols and player hunters, you're in for a fight.

Floating Cities: PvP-Free Safe Zones

For a calmer sea life, the Floating Cities offer vendors, crafting stations, and even entertainment - all safely protected by security turrets.

Inside the Floating Cities:

• 4 unique layout variants per server

• NPC Vendors sell weapons, gear, food, and meds

• Farming barges where you can harvest crops (for a fee)

• Crafting stations: recycler, workbench, research table, refinery

• Deep Deck Casino: slots, music, pool parties, and scrap gambling

These are PvE-friendly zones. Stir up trouble, and you'll get shredded by automated turrets. Think Bandit Camp... but floating.

Tropical Islands: Small but Mighty

The Deep Sea also introduces Tropical Islands - micro-biomes far from Rust's familiar pine forests.

• Expect lush palms, white sands, and a tropical vibe

• Each island may offer ruins, ore nodes, or rare loot

• Their semi-procedural nature means no two will feel the same

Rumor has it there's a new edible treat hidden on these islands - happy hunting!

Naval Combat Heats Up

Ocean combat is no longer just "shoot from your RHIB and pray."

Introducing the PT Boat:

1. Slow but heavily armored

2. Armed with two turrets:

• One dual .50 cal

• One precise single .50 cal

3. AI-controlled patrols now roam the Deep Sea

4. Scientist boats can be stolen once cleared of enemies

RHIB Gets a Refresh:

• New textures, model, and a working compass + map display

• Now used by AI in Deep Sea and at Large Oil Rig

These new naval AI are no joke - flanking, using smokes, ambushing, and taking cover when sniped.

Smarter AI on the High Seas

Facepunch has completely rewritten AI behavior for naval encounters.

AI Improvements:

• Don't "see through walls" anymore

• Use line of sight, noise, and flanking tactics

• Can now be outsmarted, not just outgunned

• Throw smokes, flank, wait in ambush

This new AI is currently limited to:

• Ghost Ships

• Tropical Islands

• Oil Rigs

If feedback stays positive, it'll roll out across all scientists in the future.

New Naval Missions

This update also brings 5 brand-new missions themed around naval content. Some take place entirely in the Deep Sea, while others start on land and send you sailing.

You can pick these up from both new and existing NPCs - just look for the mission icons during conversation.

Mission System Improvements:

• Optional bonus objectives for extra rewards

• Multiple map/compass markers at once

• Faster generation and better performance

Server Performance: Massive Overhaul

One reason this update was delayed? Server performance was at risk. But Facepunch spent months optimizing nearly every system to bring it back in line.

Highlights:

• Buoyancy overhaul: 4x faster performance in ocean physics

• Oven and Furnace rework: Now budgeted per frame, less lag

• Turret angle sync reduced: Fewer network spikes

• Industrial system: Massive gains in complex base handling

• Mounted player sync: Cut performance cost by 95% in boats

• Procedural spawning (junkpiles, etc.): Now way more efficient

TL;DR: You can host more players, more boats, more chaos - with less lag.

Artist DLC Pack: Make Rust Beautiful(ish)

The Artist DLC Pack also dropped with this update - packed with creative tools and hilarious paint-based chaos.

What's Inside:

• Paintball Gun + Overalls (with damage modifiers!)

• Light-Up Frames, Ornate Frames, Shutter Frames

• Paintable Targets, Easels, Windows

• Award Spray Sprays: 1st place to... last place.

Great for RP servers, YouTubers, or people who just like spray-painting insults.

Other Notable Additions

• Viewmodel for Building Planner - finally!

• New skinnable item: SKS

• Floating City Casinos

• New server commands and dev tools

• Reworked NPC dialogue trees

Ready to Raid the Seas?

The Rust Naval Update is the most ambitious content drop in years. Whether you're customizing a gunboat, raiding Ghost Ships, or partying at the Deep Deck Casino - the oceans are finally alive.

And if you're running a server? Make sure you're hosting on hardware that can handle 200+ boats. (Psst: PingRite has you covered.)

We've covered everything in the Rust Naval Update pretty thoroughly here, but if you want to hear what our official partner - Rust has to say about the update, check out their blog here.

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