Inspired by Sting's own childhood experiences and the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, an earlier version of the musical with book by John Logan and Brian Yorkey played at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago, before moving to the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway in 2014.

[3][4] It tells the story about community and the demise of the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, with the closure of the town's Swan Hunter shipyard.

The show features a score by Sting[20] that includes mostly original material, as well as four previously written songs: "Island of Souls" and "All This Time" from The Soul Cages, "When We Dance" from the 1994 album Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994, and "Ghost Story" from the 1999 album Brand New Day.

"Tyneside accents and the decline of Britain’s industrial heartland aren’t naturally in the wheelhouse of Manhattan’s jewellery-rattling theatregoers.

The musical uses a twelve-member orchestra consisting of keyboard, piano, guitar, bass, drums, Northumbrian smallpipe, flute, whistle, melodeon, fiddle, cello and percussion.

[45] Previews started playing at the Neil Simon Theater on 29 September 2014,[46] and the official opening night was 26 October 2014.

[49] In a bid to help falling ticket sales, creator and musician Sting joined the cast for a limited run from 9 December 2014 to 24 January 2015,[50] replacing Jimmy Nail.

[51] Despite sales increasing with Sting in the cast and producers stating he had had a "galvanising effect", the decision was made to close the show on 24 January 2015.

[52] The Last Ship was produced in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre at the University of Utah campus from 16 September 2016 through 1 October 2016, making its regional premiere in Salt Lake City in the first production after its Broadway run.

One of the world's biggest cruise ships, the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas, was built at the Turku shipyard.

In October 2017, it was announced The Last Ship would be embark on a UK and Ireland tour,[55] beginning at Northern Stage in Newcastle upon Tyne 12 March 2018,[56] closing 7 July 2018 at Lyric Theatre, part of The Lowry in Salford.

[59] Jimmy Nail had been due to reprise the role he created on Broadway of Jackie White, however negotiations stalled and his offer to perform on the tour was withdrawn.

The Theatre of West Pomerania and Theater Koblenz rescheduled their productions of The Last Ship in 2021 after the 2020 versions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.