Isogeometric Analysis (IgA) is an emerging numerical procedure conceived as a useful advancement of the traditional Finite Element Method (FEM). The essence of IgA is to bridge the current communication gap between Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) modules by employing high-order smooth spline basis functions both for geometry modelling and the construction of the solution space of analysis. As such, the method enables major benefits, namely a simplified pre-processing workflow and enhanced accuracy per degree of freedom associated with the capability of by-passing the time-consuming mesh creation stage and preserving exact geometry regardless of grid refinement. Furthermore, a user’s prerogative of selecting bases with adequate interelement continuity allows for a direct discretization of high-order differential operators, thereby avoiding stress recovery algorithms at the patch level during post-processing. In this contribution, the isogeometric approach is introduced to the detailed analysis of a ship’s structural member. In this regard, an in-house MatLab code has been developed for the structural assessment of linearly elastic isotropic continua, defined by either one or multiple NURBS patches. Within the IgA framework, the displacement approach of the mechanical problem is treated in its equivalent weak form and the obtained variational statement is discretized by means of an isogeometric Navier solid element formulation. Patch tests, involving in-plane loaded steel plates, are preliminarily performed to verify the accuracy of the numerical prediction, delivered by the present code, with respect to its analytical counterpart. A typical T-beam with associated plating is then analysed under uniform loading. It is demonstrated that the proposed approach can be recommended for engineering practice.