A starport is where ship construction takes place. A starport must be built on a planet before that planet can take advantage of its military production and produce ships. Colonies with a starport constructed will have an icon next to them on the main map indicating its presence. If the icon is blue a ship is being produced, while if the icon is yellow the starport is currently idle on that planet. Starports are able to be constructed from the beginning of the game (no technologies need to be researched), allowing players to quickly construct starports on even their earliest colonies.