This paper describes the system for protecting ships from lightning strikes. The development of the protection system throughout history from the eighteenth century to modern systems is described. The parts of the system, their characteristics determined by standards and the methods used for calculating protection zones are described. The specific calculation of protection zones and the characteristics of the parts of the protection system are shown using the examples of a cargo ship and a sailing ship. The introductory chapter and the first three chapters of the thesis generally discuss the current and new standards, types of damage and consequences of losses from lightning strikes. The fourth chapter describes the design of a lightning protection system, from the arresters to the conductors to the earthing conductors. The methods of the protective angle and the rolling ball method are also discussed. The fifth chapter deals with the essence of this thesis. The characteristics of lightning, the danger of electric shock, the development of the system for protecting ships from lightning strikes throughout history, the components of the modern protection system are described and at the end of the chapter two methods used for designing a system for protecting ships from lightning strikes are presented. Chapter six contains advice that should be followed in case you find yourself in a storm accompanied by lightning. Chapter seven contains a method of calculating the system for protecting ships from lightning strikes. The calculation is presented for a cargo ship with a length of 150 m and a sailing ship with a length of 50 m (Adriatic Vila). The calculation is accompanied by ship drawings and pictures of the protection zones.