Ships were introduced to Catan with the Seafarers expansion, released in 1997 by Klaus Teuber, letting players build across water hexes between islands. Digital versions of the game, such as Catan Universe, add short audio cues for each action, and the ship building sound became a recognisable staple for players of those apps. Online it shows up in board game clips, stream highlights and meme edits where someone makes a questionable strategic choice, usually synced to the moment a ship hits the board.