diff --git a/include/ship.h b/include/ship.h
index 871525c2..4b952b6b 100644
--- a/include/ship.h
+++ b/include/ship.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
  *     Thomas Ruschak, 1992
  *     Ken Stevens, 1995
  *     Steve McClure, 1998
- *     Markus Armbruster, 2004-2013
+ *     Markus Armbruster, 2004-2014
  */
 
 #ifndef SHIP_H
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ extern double shp_torp_hitchance(struct shpstr *, int);
 
 /* src/lib/subs/shpsub.c */
 extern void shp_sel(struct nstr_item *, struct emp_qelem *);
+extern struct ulist *shp_insque(struct shpstr *, struct emp_qelem *);
 extern void shp_nav(struct emp_qelem *, double *, double *, int *, natid);
 extern int shp_sweep(struct emp_qelem *, int, int, natid);
 extern enum d_navigation shp_check_nav(struct shpstr *, struct sctstr *);
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c b/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c
index cb73c636..577c5734 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/shpsub.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
  *  Known contributors to this file:
  *     Ken Stevens, 1995
  *     Steve McClure, 1996-2000
- *     Markus Armbruster, 2006-2013
+ *     Markus Armbruster, 2006-2014
  */
 
 #include <config.h>
@@ -61,8 +61,6 @@ void
 shp_sel(struct nstr_item *ni, struct emp_qelem *list)
 {
     struct shpstr ship;
-    struct mchrstr *mcp;
-    struct ulist *mlp;
 
     emp_initque(list);
     while (nxtitem(ni, &ship)) {
@@ -73,7 +71,6 @@ shp_sel(struct nstr_item *ni, struct emp_qelem *list)
 	 */
 	if (!ship.shp_own || ship.shp_own != player->cnum)
 	    continue;
-	mcp = &mchr[(int)ship.shp_type];
 	if (opt_MARKET) {
 	    if (ontradingblock(EF_SHIP, &ship)) {
 		pr("ship #%d inelligible - it's for sale.\n",
@@ -85,14 +82,26 @@ shp_sel(struct nstr_item *ni, struct emp_qelem *list)
 	ship.shp_rflags = 0;
 	memset(ship.shp_rpath, 0, sizeof(ship.shp_rpath));
 	putship(ship.shp_uid, &ship);
-	mlp = malloc(sizeof(struct ulist));
-	mlp->chrp = (struct empobj_chr *)mcp;
-	mlp->unit.ship = ship;
-	mlp->mobil = ship.shp_mobil;
-	emp_insque(&mlp->queue, list);
+	shp_insque(&ship, list);
     }
 }
 
+/*
+ * Append SP to LIST.
+ * Return the new list link.
+ */
+struct ulist *
+shp_insque(struct shpstr *sp, struct emp_qelem *list)
+{
+    struct ulist *mlp = malloc(sizeof(struct ulist));
+
+    mlp->chrp = (struct empobj_chr *)&mchr[sp->shp_type];
+    mlp->unit.ship = *sp;
+    mlp->mobil = sp->shp_mobil;
+    emp_insque(&mlp->queue, list);
+    return mlp;
+}
+
 /* This function assumes that the list was created by shp_sel */
 void
 shp_nav(struct emp_qelem *list, double *minmobp, double *maxmobp,
@@ -912,12 +921,7 @@ shp_missdef(struct shpstr *sp, natid victim)
     char buf[512];
 
     emp_initque(&list);
-
-    mlp = malloc(sizeof(struct ulist));
-    mlp->chrp = (struct empobj_chr *)&mchr[(int)sp->shp_type];
-    mlp->unit.ship = *sp;
-    mlp->mobil = sp->shp_mobil;
-    emp_insque(&mlp->queue, &list);
+    mlp = shp_insque(sp, &list);
     sprintf(buf, "%s", prship(&mlp->unit.ship));
 
     eff = sp->shp_effic;
diff --git a/src/lib/update/nav_ship.c b/src/lib/update/nav_ship.c
index 53873b1c..2010d118 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/nav_ship.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/nav_ship.c
@@ -256,12 +256,8 @@ nav_ship(struct shpstr *sp)
 
     /* Make a list of one ships so we can use the navi.c code */
     emp_initque(&ship_list);
-    mlp = malloc(sizeof(struct ulist));
-    mlp->chrp = (struct empobj_chr *)(mchr + sp->shp_type);
-    mlp->unit.ship = *sp;
+    mlp = shp_insque(sp, &ship_list);
     ef_mark_fresh(EF_SHIP, &mlp->unit.ship);
-    mlp->mobil = sp->shp_mobil;
-    emp_insque(&mlp->queue, &ship_list);
 
     do {
 	if ((sp->shp_mobil > 0) && (!(sp->shp_autonav & AN_LOADING)) &&
diff --git a/src/lib/update/sail.c b/src/lib/update/sail.c
index e411786d..644086cf 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/sail.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/sail.c
@@ -337,16 +337,11 @@ fltp_to_list(struct fltheadstr *fltp, struct emp_qelem *list)
 {
     struct fltelemstr *fe;
     struct ulist *mlp;
-    struct shpstr *sp;
 
     emp_initque(list);
     for (fe = fltp->head; fe; fe = fe->next) {
-	mlp = malloc(sizeof(struct ulist));
-	sp = getshipp(fe->num);
-	mlp->chrp = (struct empobj_chr *)(mchr + sp->shp_type);
-	mlp->unit.ship = *sp;
+	mlp = shp_insque(getshipp(fe->num), list);
 	ef_mark_fresh(EF_SHIP, &mlp->unit.ship);
 	mlp->mobil = fe->mobil;
-	emp_insque(&mlp->queue, list);
     }
 }