With the rapid development of information technology and the deep application of digital engineering technology in ship development, remote collaborative design has become an inevitable trend in the ship development. For the study of the model-based shipyard remote collaborative design, it explores the design transition stage that is marked by the delivery of the three-dimensional (3D) model from the general institute to the shipyard. The assembly shipyard can then directly conduct the production design and the process design based on the 3D model, aiming at increasing the efficiency of research and development, shortening the design cycle and improving the product quality. It also prospects and analyzes the application of the model based definition (MBD) technology in the shipyard remote collaborative design.