The value of a complete and accurate digital representation of a ship that is available and maintained throughout the construction and operation of the vessel is being increasingly recognized. This ‘digital twin’ ideally contains all relevant information about the vessel and is contained within a single software platform. Unfortunately, while the benefits of a digital twin are real, achieving the desired outcome is more challenging than generally thought. Many obstacles, some cultural, some process related, and some technological, commonly appear when trying to create a digital twin.