Hi Felix,

It depends on what aspects of design you're interested in. For a variety of reasons, including security as well as commercial or IP, very little current information would be shared publicly.

However, the general features such as evolution or change in propulsion system (from steam to diesel or gas-turbine), or increase in proportion of vessels with aviation facilities, might be something you can see evolve. Going through various editions of Combat Fleets or Jane's can be useful and the latter publication also has advertisements from designers and manufacturers which could point you in interesting directions. There's also the suppliers of components - eg periscopes or shock-resistant mountings for air-handling - which you can go through and see what companies advertise which products and when: this shows what could be 'flavour of the month' at the time of each publication.

If you're interested in certain aspects of design, or decisions about what features to include, some manufacturers/designers (eg - Hyundai, Damen etc) have product lists and brochures which show general specs for present-generation vessels. It also depends on the type - you'll find so much less information/detail about submarines or vessels for high-intensity combat than you will for (eg) harbour support craft or research etc vessels.

Finally, as some nations or designers look towards how they classify their vessels you can have a look at the rules or requirements of those. Some common systems feature across vessels or types from a variety of navies, coast-guards etc.

Simon