DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) is a versatile markup language designed for structured content authoring and publishing. While it is commonly associated with technical and software documentation, it can indeed be used for various types of maritime documentation, including ship manuals and safety guides.

Structured Content for Maritime Documentation

DITA provides a framework that allows you to organize and structure your content effectively. For maritime documentation, this means you can create structured topics for ship manuals, safety procedures, equipment guides, and more. Each topic can have its own specific content, such as text, images, tables, and even multimedia elements, making it suitable for the diverse range of documentation required in the maritime industry.

Reusable Components

One of the key advantages of DITA is its support for reusable components. You can create standardized content modules, such as safety warnings, emergency procedures, or technical specifications, and reuse them across different documentation types. This ensures consistency in your maritime documentation while saving time and effort in content creation and maintenance.

Example:

<code>
<topic id="safety_guide">
  <title>Safety Guide</title>
  <content>
    <section id="emergency_procedures">
      <title>Emergency Procedures</title>
      <p>In case of an emergency, follow these procedures: ...</p>
    </section>
    <section id="safety_equipment">
      <title>Safety Equipment</title>
      <p>List of safety equipment on board: ...</p>
    </section>
  </content>
</topic>
</code>